What characterizes person-centered therapy?

Person-centered therapy, also known as client-centered therapy, is fundamentally characterized by the therapist providing a supportive environment while the client leads the conversation. This approach emphasizes the importance of the therapeutic relationship, viewing the client as the expert on their own experiences and feelings. The therapist's role is to create a facilitative atmosphere of unconditional positive regard, empathy, and authenticity, which allows clients to explore their thoughts and feelings freely.

In this therapeutic framework, the therapist does not provide directive guidance or impose their own insights onto the client, nor are the sessions structured with predetermined outcomes. Instead, the focus is squarely on the client’s self-directed process of understanding and growth. This empowering approach fosters personal discovery, helping clients to gain deeper insights into their situations and feelings at their own pace.