Lesson 3: Treatment

Person-Centered Therapy

Founded by Carl Rogers, this form of therapy gives more responsibility to patients regarding their own treatment. People are viewed in a positive way with the belief that most individuals can resolve their own problems. Therapists direct their clients through increasing levels of self-awareness and they are encouraged to experience previously denied feelings. Therapists strive to have their clients trust in themselves. With the increasing self-trust they develop, patients begin to direct their own lives. The person-centered therapist guides individuals to uncover their real problems and helps direct them to solutions. They focus on “the here and the now.” With this view, good mental health is a balance between the ideal self and the real self. If there is a large gap between what a person is (real self) and what a person wants to be (ideal self), maladjusted behaviour may result.