What is Rogerian Person-centered Therapy?

Dr. Larry Cohen, Therapist and Life Coach, Voorhees, NJ (856) 352-5428 ContacT NJ Therapy & Life Coaching

"It is the client who knows what hurts, what directions to go, what problems are crucial, what experiences have been deeply buried.”

― Carl Rogers

WHAT IS PERSON-CENTERED THERAPY and Why I Use It

Therapist, teacher, and researcher Carl Rogers introduced what is known as person-centered psychotherapy. This method shifts therapy away from the therapist’s role as “the expert” to a cooperative method in which the therapist and client work together on problems and solutions. how psychotherapy is practiced today finds its origins in this method of providing therapy.

When clients ask me about the methods of therapy I use, I tell them that I provide cognitive therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy within a Rogerian person-centered framework. This means that I strive to support personal growth by providing a non-judgmental therapy experience and by providing unconditional positive regard in therapy sessions. 

What Do I Provide?

To provide Rogerian Person-Centered psychotherapy the following conditions must exist:

  • Personal growth can occur only when there is a connected relationship between you and your therapist. Here, Rogers stresses the need for a robust, connected relationship between you and your therapist. He states that in order for you to experience personal growth, a connected relationship must exist between you and I.

  • Anxiety and fear are most often the result of an ‘incongruence’ between your self-image and your daily experiences. You may be unaware of the clouded way you see reality as the result of your inner core beliefs. We work together to identify these beliefs and how they impact your life and view of the world.

  • I must be genuine. In order for your personal growth to occur, I must be true and understand myself when I work with you. This means that I need to be self-aware if I am to understand you and your experiences.

  • I must provide unconditional positive regard when we work together. This is the foundation upon which our relationship rests. Providing you with unconditional positive regard means that I accept all of you and who you are, free of judgment.

  • I must be empathic. Empathy is my having the ability to understand and relate to your experiences and emotions. A key to your personal growth is my ability to personally relate to what you bring to our relationship.

  • By providing unconditional positive regard and a non-judgmental environment in therapy, you are able to be who you are. You cannot change and grow if you do not feel safe sharing all of who you are.

You must feel safe and understood when participating in psychotherapy. Through my use of Rogerian person-centered methods, your therapy will lead to a full understanding of who you really are, and will allow you to grow and change.