clientcentred

Client-centred, or client-centered therapy, is a humanistic approach to counseling and psychotherapy that emphasizes the client as the primary agent of change. It seeks to establish a therapeutic relationship marked by acceptance, genuineness, and empathic understanding, in which individuals can explore their experiences, feelings, and values with minimal direction from the therapist.

Developed by Carl Rogers in the mid-20th century, the approach holds that personal growth arises when people perceive the therapist as congruent, nonjudgmental, and accurately attuned to their inner world. Three core conditions guide the work: unconditional positive regard, empathic understanding, and congruence (genuineness) in the therapist.

Practices involve reflective listening, paraphrasing, and offering space for self-directed exploration. The therapist adopts a non-directive stance, avoids imposing interpretations, and respects the client's autonomy, allowing insights to emerge from the client’s own process rather than external guidance.

Applications span psychotherapy, counseling, and social work, with influence in education and community services. It is often used as a foundation or complement to other modalities, particularly those emphasizing client empowerment and collaborative goal setting.

Evidence indicates usefulness for improving self-esteem, communication, and coping in many contexts, but the approach may be less prescriptive for severe or complex conditions and depends on a skilled therapeutic relationship. Critics note that without structure it may not suit all clients or problems.

Related concepts include person-centered therapy, humanistic psychology, and Rogers’s theory of self. The term is used mainly in English-speaking contexts with various spellings (center/centre) depending on regional usage.