The Benefits Of Client-Centered Therapy

Client-centered therapy is rooted in the belief that people are naturally driven towards positive development. When provided with authentic, non-judgemental support from a therapist, the client is encouraged to explore their thoughts and feelings more deeply and find clarity.

The goal of client-centered therapy is to help clients improve their quality of life, based on their unique needs. Client-centered therapy specifically does so by helping clients develop the skills to solve their problems autonomously, known as self-actualization.

Also known as person-centered therapy, client-based therapy, non-directive therapy, and Rogerian therapy, this therapeutic approach is one of the most popular models of psychotherapy practiced worldwide. The therapist takes the stance of an active listener and may subtly guide the discussion, but does not direct it.

Keep reading to learn more about client-centered therapy, including who can benefit from it and what the benefits are, the three concepts behind it, the techniques used, its limitations, and more.

Benefits Of Client-Based Therapy

There are many potential benefits associated with client-centered therapy.

Some of the associated benefits include:

• a better sense of self, self-concept (how you see yourself), and self-satisfaction
• greater self-awareness
• more trust in personal decision-making and abilities
• healthier communication in personal relationships
• improvements in expressing thoughts and feelings
• a better quality of life
• greater self-satisfaction

Who Can Benefit From Client-Centered Therapy?

Client-centered therapy may be beneficial for people with a wide range of mental health needs.

This form of therapy may be helpful for people with:

• mental health disorders including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• substance use disorders
• antisocial or other personality disorders
• phobias, such as aerophobia (fear of flying) or acrophobia (fear of heights)
• eating disorders
• relationship problems
• unresolved trauma
• chronic stress
• self-esteem issues
• grief or bereavement
• problems at school or work

Client-centered therapy can also help people who are simply looking to improve their level of self-awareness and decision-making abilities.

How Does Person-Centered Therapy Work?

Clients typically meet with a therapist once a week for 45 minutes to an hour.

Client-centered therapy can be provided one-on-one or in a group setting. Therapy can be short-term or long-term, depending on the client’s goals. The cost of therapy will depend on the length of treatment and whether or not the client has health insurance.

A typical session begins with the client leading the discussion. No situation is too menial to be spoken about, as it’s all about supporting the client’s self-discovery. If necessary, the therapist may begin by following up with a question about what was discussed during the previous session. If a client is seeking therapy for conflict with a family member, for example, the therapist may inquire about any interactions with the family member since the last session, and how the client feels about them.

One of the chief roles of the therapist is to be an active listener; however, this doesn’t mean the therapist is a silent party. Although the therapist will not direct the discussion or deeply analyze the client’s statements, the therapist will restate what the client says, using different verbiage, or ask open-ended follow-up questions to encourage further thoughts.

The Three Concepts Of Client-Centered Therapy

There are three concepts that guide the therapist’s conduct in client-centered therapy, according to Rogers.

The three concepts of client-centered therapy are:

• congruence
• empathic understanding
• unconditional positive regard

Congruence

Congruence is the most important of the concepts. It refers to the fact that the therapist must be authentic and genuinely involved and interested in their interactions with the client in order to encourage the client’s development. With congruency, the therapist should express their true thoughts and reactions with a client and not maintain a facade or “blank screen,” which is the case with psychoanalysis. Congruence allows the client to feel both understood and accepted, encouraging authenticity.

Empathic Understanding

Empathic understanding is the therapist’s capacity to comprehend what the client is feeling in the present moment. The therapist does not need to analyze the client’s recollection of events to understand their emotions and empathize with them. Rather, the therapist aims to see situations from the client’s perspective.

Rogers believed that empathy helps clients to:

• pay attention and value their experiences
• understand past experiences from a different perspective
• learn to see themselves and others, their relationships, and the world in different ways
• develop their self-confidence in regards to their decision-making

Unconditional Positive Regard

Unconditional positive regard refers to the therapist’s care and concern for the client. Even if the therapist does not necessarily approve of a client’s decision-making, they continue to support the client by remaining non-judgemental. The therapist knows that client-centered therapy is about the client’s development and self-discovery, and not about the client meeting the therapist’s expectations.

Techniques Used In Client-Centered Therapy

Therapists use several techniques in order to practice client-centered therapy. Some of these techniques include unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence, as noted above.

Other techniques used in client-centered therapy include:

• setting boundaries, such as how long the session will last
• acting as a sounding board by listening to what the client says and then saying it back to the client, in the therapist’s own words, and never making decisions for the client
• being an active listener so the client feels seen and heard, and can become comfortable opening up
• letting the client be the expert by enabling them to explain themselves to the therapist, instead of the therapist telling the client what their problems are and how to resolve them
• allowing the conversation to take its time by maintaining a calm tone and enabling short pauses for reflection

Limitations Of Client-Centered Therapy

Client-centered therapy has many benefits, but it also has a few limitations, such as the lack of structure, the time commitment, and the openness requirement.

Lack Of Structure

This form of therapy does not follow strict guidelines. There is no predetermined list of goals, as the client’s needs may change as therapy goes on. The sessions themselves are based on information provided by the client, who does most of the talking. For some people, particularly individuals with severe mental illness or certain personality disorders, the structure may not be conducive to development.

Time Commitment

Like any kind of therapy, clients must meet with the therapist repeatedly and over time. The first few therapy sessions are typically devoted to having the therapist get to know the client. It may take some time for the therapist to understand the client’s personality and their needs. It will take even more time for the client to fully open up and for the process of self-reflection and self-discovery to begin.

A 2022 study of 56 clients over 20 therapy sessions, called “A Longitudinal Analysis of Person-Centered Therapy with Suicidal Clients,” found that a minimum of 15 sessions were required for significant change to take place. Though no form of therapy offers a fast fix, client-centered therapy may be especially time-consuming.

Openness

Some people have more difficulty than others with opening up. This skill can take time to learn, and even longer to feel comfortable with, especially if a person had their trust broken through difficult relationships early in life or trauma.

How Effective Is Client-Centered Therapy?

There are many potential benefits to client-centered therapy; however, these benefits are unique to each client and are based on the client’s willingness to be open and honest.

For therapy to be effective, the client must be motivated and prepared to be forthright. The client must also be patient with themselves as they undergo the journey of broadening their perspective, modifying their thinking, and becoming accountable.

Learn About Evidence-Based Therapy At BRC

If you are facing a mental health or substance use disorder and are looking for client-centered treatment, call us today to learn about our recovery programs.