What is Person Centred Therapy?

The person centred approach is a strength based approach to counselling that emphasises the client’s own ability to grow and heal. First developed by Carl Rogers in the 1940s, this approach stood counter to the traditional view of therapist as an expert or a source of advise for the client and emphsised the importance of the relationship between the two. Rather than telling clients what to do about their problems, Roger’s sought to develop a relationship with his clients that would support and encourage the clients own autonomy.

Rather than trying to “fix” you, Person Centred Therapy gives you space to explore what’s really going on for you—without judgment, pressure, or someone else’s agenda. It’s about creating a safe, respectful environment where you can look at the things in your life that feel painful, unsatisfying  or stuck. Through the safety of this therapeutic relationship, insight and change naturally begin to unfold. You start to see how your past experiences and current beliefs are shaping your life—and you can begin to shift what’s no longer serving you, reoganising your inner and outer worlds to find personal solutions to your problems that work in the context of your own life.

“If I can provide a certain type of relationship, the other person will discover within himself the capacity to use that relationship for growth, and change and personal development will occur.”

— Carl Rogers 1941

So, what does this therapeutic relationship actually look like?

Carl Rogers, believed that for real change to happen, the relationship between therapist and client needs to feel safe, genuine, and supportive. He described three key qualities—often called the core conditions—that help make the relationship therapeutic: empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence.

In everyday terms, this means that as your therapist:

  •  I’ll do my best to understand how the world looks and feels from your perspective and be curious and interested in the experiences that have shaped you.

  • I’ll act as a mirror, reflecting back what I notice—gently helping you gain clarity about your thoughts, feelings, and patterns.

  • I’ll hold space for you with respect, not judgment—even when things feel messy or complicated.

  • I’ll assume you’re doing your best with what you’ve got, and I’ll never label your choices or struggles as “wrong.”

  • I’ll show up as a fellow human being without putting on a professional front or playing a role

  • I’ll bring my full self into the relationship with you and work with my heart as well as my head.

These aren’t just nice-sounding ideas—they’re the foundation of a relationship that can support deep, meaningful growth. It’s in this kind of space that you can start to feel safe enough to explore, question, and begin to move forward.

Is Person Centred therapy the best type of therapy for my particular problem?

This is tricky to answer.  The truth is, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. Research over the years has shown that no single type of therapy consistently works “best” for any specific issue. In fact, most studies suggest that what really makes the biggest difference in therapy is the relationship between you and your therapist—how well you connect, how safe and supported you feel, and how much trust you can build together.

This idea is part of what’s called the Common Factors Theory—it’s the notion that it’s not necessarily the technique or the model of therapy that matters most, but the human connection at the heart of it. It’s the human skills, not the technical skills, that play the biggest role in healing and growth.

When organisations like the NHS or Employee Assistance Programs are choosing therapy models, they often have practical considerations like time and cost in mind. They naturally want to find the most efficient and cost effective way to treat clients, and may tend to gravitate towards short term, time limited options for these reasons.

Person-centred therapy, on the other hand, is open-ended and led by you. Using human skills and building a quality relationship we give space to explore what’s really going on, in your own time, allowing you to have you own therapeutic process in your own way.

As a person-centred therapist, I don’t believe that different problems need different therapeutic strategies. I’m not here to just provide solutions for symptoms. I see you as a whole person, with your own history, values, relationships, and inner world. Together, we take the time to understand your unique experience—gently exploring the layers of your story, to uncover the deeper roots of your challenges, not just the surface symptoms. This process can take time, and it might not offer a quick fix—but the insight and clarity you gain lead to true transformation and lasting change.  

“The best way out is always through. ”

— Robert Frost