THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE CLIENT-CENTRED APPROACH IN MODERN PSYCHOTHERAPY

The current conditions of instability and stressfulness of social reality, generated by the rapid processes of globalisation and the information revolution, are becoming determinants of the loss of psychological balance by the individual. Focusing on outdated stereotypes of social interaction, a person experiences a discrepancy between reality and the expected result, which contributes to the deepening of intrapersonal contradictions. In such circumstances, psychotherapy is an important tool for relieving tension, resolving internal conflicts, and adapting to a dynamic environment [1, 4].

One of the most effective psychotherapeutic paradigms is client-centred counselling, which was formed within the framework of humanistic psychology. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the concept of this direction was thoroughly developed by Carl Rogers. In the modern rethinking, his ideas remain relevant and have been further developed in the works of researchers working in the field of humanistic and positive psychology [1, 3].

Rogers emphasised that every personality has an innate tendency to self-actualisation - an inner desire for development, self-realisation, autonomy, and full disclosure of potential. In modern approaches, this concept is interpreted as a person's natural ability to overcome internal barriers and get closer to the true self under conditions of psychological safety [5].

At the same time, one of the main factors that hinders this process is conditional values that are formed under the influence of the social environment. A person may reject some important aspects of their own identity in order to meet the expectations of others. This internal gap between the real and socially approved self-image is often a source of psychological suffering and maladjustment [6, 7].

The value orientation of the client-centred approach is to recognise the intrinsic dignity of each individual and their ability to self-regulate, provided that there is an appropriate emotional climate. This model of interaction is based on the idea that changes in the client are not the result of external intervention, but occur naturally when psychological defences are reduced and experience is accepted without judgement. That is why researchers emphasise the importance of creating ‘conditions conducive to growth’ as a key task of the therapist, rather than finding solutions or interpretations of the problem [1, 3].

The success of the therapeutic process in a client-centred approach depends on the presence of three key conditions: empathic understanding, unconditional positive acceptance, and therapist congruence (authenticity). Modern research confirms that these conditions are an effective predictor of positive changes in the psycho-emotional state of clients [2].

Thus, client-centred counselling not only helps to overcome emotional difficulties, but also serves as a tool for existential self-discovery and growth, which is especially relevant in the context of constant social change, global crises and existential uncertainty.

1. Cain, D. J. Person-Centered Psychotherapies. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2010. 316 p.
2. Cooper, M., Watson, J. C., Holldampf, D. Person-Centred and Experiential Therapies Work: A Review of the Research on Counselling, Psychotherapy and Related Practices. Ross-on-Wye: PCCS Books, 2013. 352 p.
3. Joseph, S., Murphy, D. Person-Centred Approach, Positive Psychology and Relational Depth: A Theoretical Integration. Person-Centred & Experiential Psychotherapies, 2013, vol. 12(2), pp. 109–123.
4. Murphy, D. Counselling Psychology: A Textbook for Study and Practice. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2017. 240 p.
5. Rogers, C. R., Cornelius-White, J. Carl Rogers: The Quiet Revolutionary – An Oral History. PCCS Books, 2021. 320 p.
6. Sanders, P. The Person-Centred Counselling Primer: A Steps in Counselling Supplement. Ross-on-Wye: PCCS Books, 2013. 160 p.
7. Wilkins, P. Person-Centred Therapy: 100 Key Points. London: Routledge, 2017. 248 p.