“Explore your theoretical understanding of Carl Rogers’ personality theory and how if at all the theory relates to your personal life experiences. Illustrate your understanding of the therapeutic conditions for change such as defined by the Person-Centred approach to counselling and explain why they are thought to be effective. -Initial Post Professional Award in Counselling and Therapeutic Care -Module: CNB3001, Understanding the Person-Centred Approach.”

In this essay I am going to explore Carl Rogers’ works and beliefs along with his personality theory. Then I will go on to explain the therapeutic conditions needed for change as defined and outlined by the Person-Centred approach to counselling, and why they are thought to be effective. I will end the essay by exploring how Carl Rogers theories relates to my own life and experiences.

Carl Rogers (l902-l987) was an influential American psychologist, who along with Abraham Maslow, was the founder of the humanistic approach to psychology. Initially he termed his approach as Client-Centred Therapy, but then later renamed it the Person-Centred Approach. Rogers’ personality theory maintains that we have an Actualizing Tendency’, The Self’, Self Actualizing Tendency’. Conditions of Worth’, Organismic Valuing’ and the Fully Functioning Person….(short extract)