In Person-Centered Psychotherapies, David J. Cain discusses the history, theory, research and practice of this seminal approach whose basic premises have influenced the practice of most therapeutic systems. Person-centered therapy, also called client-centered therapy, was created by Carl Rogers almost 70 years ago. In polls of psychotherapists conducted in 1982 and 2007, Carl Rogers was voted the most influential psychotherapist in history. His original approach gave rise to a number of variations on the original, all of which may be classified as person-centered psychotherapies because of their basis in Rogers' core therapeutic conditions of empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence. This model emphasizes the client - therapist relationship, focusing on how the quality of moment-to-moment engagement between therapist and client can create optimal conditions for client growth. Person-centered therapies view clients as resourceful persons capable finding their own directions and solutions for their problems, and a fundamental value of the person-centered therapist is to honor and preserve the client's autonomy and choice. In this book, Dr. Cain presents and explores person-centered psychotherapy, its theory, history, therapy process, primary change mechanisms, the empirical basis for its effectiveness, and contemporary developments that have refined theory and expanded how it may be practiced. In recent years dialogical, experiential, existential and expressive-creative influences have been integrated in practice. This essential primer, amply illustrated with case examples featuring diverse clients, is perfect for graduate students studying theories of therapy and counseling as well as for seasoned practitioners interested in understanding how it has evolved in recent decades.

An essential new guide for any person-centred trainee or practitioner, this book explores some of the key contemporary counselling and psychotherapy approaches that have developed from classical client-centred therapy. Part One discusses five approaches including Classic Client-Centred Therapy; Relational and Dialogical Person-Centred Therapy; Focusing-Oriented Therapy; Experiential Therapy; Emotion Focussed Therapy and Person-Centred Expressive therapy. Each approach is introduced, considered in terms of its history, development, current context and relevant research, as well as exemplified through a range of inspiring vignettes. Part Two brings readers up-to-date with recent developments in the application of person-centred practice, including creative approaches, transcultural counselling, work with people who’ve experienced trauma as well as those who are experiencing limitations to their ability. Written by leading UK-based and international authors, this authoritative and thought-provoking book is a must read for anyone keen to understand the many approaches of person-centred therapy.

A comprehensive, systematic and accessible review of the evidence base for person-centered and experiential approaches to psychotherapy and counselling.

From the Book: "it is hypothesized that the therapist wants to understand for no other reason but to understand. If the therapist is motivated to understand solely to be a change agent for the client, then the facilitative mechanisms may not be sufficient because a tendency toward unconditional acceptance will not effectively emerge." "the published literature in the 1970s suggests that person-centered therapy (PCT) researchers, rather than pursuing novel avenues of empirical inquiry, devoted substantial time in defending PCT against - what now appear to be - unfounded claims made by a group of social scientists who held significant professional interest in seeing through the dismantling of the person-centered approach." Book Summary: This book is about a person-centered approach to counseling and psychotherapy as developed by the psychologist Carl Rogers (1902-1987) and his colleagues. In addition, this book is also intended to be a handbook on the person-centered approach and the Rogerian tradition for use in academic and non-academic settings alike. Each chapter is briefly summarized below. Chapter 1 ("A Person-Centered Approach and the Structure of Scientific Revolutions") examines the trend of scientific inquiry in psychotherapy research, specifically focusing on events and changes that took place beginning in the 1970s and are argued to have substantially influenced the direction of psychotherapy research in the following decades. In particular, these changes are suggested to have been guided by the choices made by a small but influential group of behavior and psychoanalytic-oriented researchers, which arguably led to changes in the scientific methods used to investigate the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic treatments; and, as will be shown in this chapter, led to the decline and disappearance of Carl Rogers's person-centered approach. This chapter suggests that through a method of allegiance-guided scientific inquiry, the Rogerian tradition was systematically dismantled by a group of social scientists that held considerable professional interests to do so. Chapter 2 ("A Person-Centered Approach to Multicultural Counseling Competence") examines current and historical trends in psychotherapy research and practice with racial/ethnic minority populations. Using psychotherapy evidence from both the latter half of the 20th century and the initial decades of the 21st century, cultural adaptations to previously hypothesized person-centered therapy mechanisms of change are proposed. Chapter 3 ("A Person-Centered Approach to the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder") addresses psychotherapy with a person described as possessing a borderline personality disorder (BPD). In particular, a selection of mainstream approaches is reviewed to examine unique and universal aspects of current thinking about this treatment population. Following this review, an expanded analysis of person-centered therapy is offered, examining current research evidence and the mechanisms of change hypothesized to occur in the person-centered treatment of BPD. Chapter 4 ("A Person-Centered Approach to the Treatment of Combat Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder") examines posttraumatic stress disorder through the lens of military combat trauma that results in a breakdown of a combat veteran's sense of self and the world. In the effective treatment of combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder, a therapist must help the veteran reorganize the self-structure that has become incongruent with his or her precombat-trauma self following his or her return home from war. For the therapist to facilitate a veteran's becoming whole, he or she must be genuinely congruent in the relationship.

Written by a diverse range of expert contributors, unified by a relational, ethics-based reading of person-centred theory and practice, this seminal text is the most in-depth and comprehensive guide to person-centred therapy. Divided into four parts, it examines the theoretical, philosophical and historical foundations of the person-centred approach; the fundamental principles of person-centred practice (as well as new developments in, and applications of, person-centred clinical work), explorations of how person-centred conceptualisations and practices can be applied to groups of clients who bring particular issues to therapy, such as bereavement or trauma, and professional issues for person-centred therapists such as ethics, supervision, and training. 10 years after it was last published, this third edition includes new content on the climate crisis, intersectionality and working with racism and anti-racism. It includes new dedicated chapters on the Non-directive Attitude, Relational Depth, Experiential Practices, Working with Trauma, Online PCA and Person-Centred approaches around the Globe. International and interdisciplinary in conception, this is a cutting-edge resource for students of psychotherapy and counselling on a range of programmes, as well as professional practitioners working in the field.

Presenting the non-directive and related points of view in counselling and therapy, Rogers gives a clear exposition of procedures by which individuals who are being counselled may be assisted in achieving for themselves new and more effective personality adjustments.

Since its beginnings in the 1950s, the person-centred approach to therapy has developed in many ways. In this important new text, Campbell Purton introduces the 'focusing' approach of Eugene Gendlin. The book discussed Gendlin's theoretical innovations and their implications for clinical practice. It throws light on the relationship between the various schools of therapy, and on the relationship between therapy and such areas as ethics and spirituality. It will be essential reading for students and practioners of person-centred therapy.

A compendium of research and practice techniques in the field of humanistic psychotherapies. In addition to the editors' comprehensive overview of the history, defining characteristics and evolution of humanistic psychotherapies, the contributors illustrate significant research results in the last decades and document the effectiveness of major humanistic therapeutic approaches, including client-centred, Gestalt, existential and experiential. The research presented shows these approaches to be equivalent and, in many cases, superior to others in treating a wide range of psychopathology. Contributors also offer guidelines for practice and introduce innovative methods for working with an increasingly difficult, diverse and complex range of individuals, couples, families and groups.

" In Person-Centered Therapy Over Time, David J. Cain demonstrates a contemporary version of Carl Rogers's pervasively influential approach, which focuses on how the quality of engagement and collaboration between therapist and client can create optimal conditions for growth. This empirically supported therapy emphasizes therapist presence, empathic attunement, acceptance and affirmation of the client, and congruence or authenticity in the therapist " -- Container.

Practical and evidence-based, this unique book is the first comprehensive text focused on person-centered approaches to people with serious mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It reflects a range of views and findings regarding assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, self-help, policy-making, education and research. It is highly recommended for all healthcare professionals, students, researchers and educators involved in general practice, psychiatry, nursing, social work, clinical psychology and therapy. Healthcare service providers, and policy makers and shapers, will find the book's wide-ranging, multi-professional approach enlightening. 'Serious Mental Illness reflects a continued distancing from the outmoded and unsubstantiated belief that people with severe mental illnesses could not recover, and that they would respond positively only to goals and treatment plans chosen, designed and implemented by providers in order to prevent their further deterioration. Anyone with an interest in the concept of person-centered approaches will discover new ideas in this book. Indeed, anyone with an interest in person-centered approaches has to read this book. Not only is it the first such book on person-centered approaches, but it will serve as the gold standard in this topic area for years to come.' William A Anthony, in the Foreword