1. Chapter 7 Person-Centered Theory
Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Theories for Social Work Practice Bruce A. Thyer, Catherine Dulmus, and Karen Sowers, Editors
Chapter 7
Person-Centered Theory
by Michael J. Holosko, Jeffrey Skinner, and Catherine Patterson
The founder of the approach known as Person-Centered Theory (PCT) was a psychologist named Carl R. Rogers (1902–1987). Early on in his career, Rogers worked as a social worker with troubled youth.
When Rogers developed his theory, the dominant perspectives to practice were psychoanalytic theory and behaviorism. In both these approaches the therapist was seen as the ‘expert’ and the client’s situation was seen as shaped largely by unconscious forces (in psychoanalysis) or by environmental learning experiences (behaviorism).
Rogers proposed that the goal of therapy (he preferred the terms counseling and client, later changed to person) was to help clients achieve greater congruence among their real self, self-concept, and ideal self.

2. Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Theories for Social Work Practice Bruce A. Thyer, Catherine Dulmus, and Karen Sowers, Editors Chapter 7 – Person-Centered Theory
Other significant figures who influenced Rogers’ development of PCT included Otto Rank, a psychiatrist, and Abraham Maslow, a psychologist.
Rank held that nurturing and intuitive emotional bonding between a client and therapist can produce growth in the individual, prefiguring central tenets of PCT.
Maslow postulated that all persons possess an innate tendency toward becoming a self-actualized human being, to achieve one’s latent potential. Becoming self-actualized was seen as usually only possible if one’s lesser needs had been satisfactorily met.
Rogers believed that by providing a genuine emotional connection between the client and therapist, characterized by certain core conditions such as empathy, warmth, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard, clients could grow to become more self-actualized persons.

3. Central Assumptions of PCT
Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Theories for Social Work Practice Bruce A. Thyer, Catherine Dulmus, and Karen Sowers, Editors Chapter 7 – Person-Centered Theory
Central Assumptions of PCT
The principle driving force for personal development is the inherent tendency of the individual to develop all his or her capacities in ways that serve to maintain or enhance that person.
Positive childhood experiences are important precursors to becoming self-actualized.
Human beings are seen as inherently rational. The human “is exquisitely rational, moving with subtle and ordered complexity towards the goal the organism is endeavoring to achieve.” (Rogers, 1961, p. 195)
Rogers was optimistic about the possibility of the ability of people to change in positive directions.
People are essentially trustworthy.

4. The Three Core Conditions
Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Theories for Social Work Practice Bruce A. Thyer, Catherine Dulmus, and Karen Sowers, Editors Chapter 7 – Person-Centered Theory
The Three Core Conditions
Congruence and Genuineness— Therapists should be authentically “real” during their interactions with clients, matching their inner and outer experiences. But self-disclosure should be appropriate and well-timed.
Unconditional Positive Regard and Acceptance— Openly care for one’s clients, and accept them and their behavior, with stipulations.
Accurate Empathetic Understanding— The therapist understands the client’s feelings and experiences both sensitively and accurately. The therapist attempts to understand the world as if it were his or her own.
Reflection helps this, repeating fragments of what the client has said, with little or no changes.
Clarification also helps, summarizing the core or essence of the client’s remarks.

5. Self-actualization is characterized by: Being open to experiences
Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Theories for Social Work Practice Bruce A. Thyer, Catherine Dulmus, and Karen Sowers, Editors Chapter 7 – Person-Centered Theory
Self-Actualization
Each person has an innate tendency or motivation, the process of becoming a “real” or authentic person, of being truly alive, active, and striving.
Self-actualization is characterized by:
Being open to experiences
Living existentially (go-with-the flow, living in the here-and-now)
Placing full trust in organismic institutions (doing what feels right after weighing all available information)

6. Relevance to Social Work
Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Theories for Social Work Practice Bruce A. Thyer, Catherine Dulmus, and Karen Sowers, Editors Chapter 7 Person-Centered Theory
Relevance to Social Work
PCT is congruent with the NASW Code of Ethics, and core professional values such as empowerment and the strengths perspective, and of helping oppressed and marginalized groups.
Assessment does not make use of “diagnosis” or categorical systems, tests, or standardized instruments.
PCT assessment usually simply involves conversations between the client and therapist, with the aim of developing the therapeutic relationship.
PCT treatment is more akin to “facilitation” than to insight-oriented therapy. Using techniques of reflection and clarification, of being genuine, warm, and of providing unconditional positive regard, it is hoped that clients will grow in the direction of being more authentic, or self-actualized. The pace of treatment is very much set by the client, not the therapist.