Evaluate the claim that Person-Centred Therapy offers the therapist all that he/she will need to treat clients.

Introduction
In this essay I will look at the claim that Person-Centred Therapy offers the therapist all that he/she will need to treat clients. Firstly, I will outline what Person-Centred therapy is and look at what its originator, Carl Rogers’, theories behind this approach are. I will then discuss some of the criticisms that have been made about Person-Centred Therapy, and weigh them up to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of this therapeutic approach. In the conclusion I will reflect on my learning, and on my own experiences and opinions.

What is Person-Centred Therapy
Person-Centred Therapy is a humanistic approach to …show more content…

Rogers describes that a Person-Centred therapist will respond differently to a client who is developing a transference relationship. Where transference attitudes from a client can be interpreted by a psycho-analyst and form a basis for the therapeutic relationship between client and therapist, a person-centred therapist will try to understand and accept such attitudes, reflect them back to the client and help the client to recognize their attitudes are their own perception. This way the therapist supports the client’s own re-organization of their self. (Rogers, 2003)

Another criticism is that Person-Centred Therapy does not offer a diagnosis. Rogers describes this also in the same chapter. The more medical approach to therapy often consists of making a diagnosis, and then offers a prescribed form of treatment. Because the Person-Centred approach sees the person as having the potential to self-heal, when they are able to be in touch again with their own locus of evaluation, a diagnosis from an expert is not needed. In fact, Rogers describes that making a diagnosis puts the locus of evaluation with the expert, which can lead to dependent tendencies for the client, and a possible loss of confidence. The Person-Centred approach is about increasing the client’s confidence, and increasing the client’s ability to make the right choices for him/herself. (Rogers, 2003)

After thinking and reading about the above, I started