Client-Centered Therapy

Take the reins of your healing

Each one of us has an ideal therapeutic approach - some may prefer for their clinician to take the lead or advise them on how to work through their struggles. Others may be looking for a therapist that takes a more humanistic approach, merely guiding your journey of self discovery. 

Whatever your preference may be, the beauty of therapy is that there are endless approaches that will be best suited for your needs. 

If you are reading this blog, my guess is that you are interested in a more human centered approach. In that case, client-centered therapy may be exactly what you’ve been looking for! 

What is Client-centered Therapy? 

In client-centered therapy you will lead the general direction of your sessions - It is grounded in the idea that individuals are inherently motivated to find their own solutions and achieve psychological well being. 

This practice shifts the perspective from ‘human beings are flawed and need treatment for troublesome behaviors’ to ‘human beings have the ability to better understand themselves and grow with the tools and resources provided from a clinician’. 

Client-centered therapy is driven by empathy, positivity, and inclusivity. Your therapist will act as a guide and source of support - creating a safe space for you to realize your full potential and make positive changes in your life. 

What can I expect sessions to look like? 

Client-centered therapy can be a bit tricky to understand because it doesn’t necessarily aim to solve any specific problems or symptoms. Instead, it focuses on increasing your self awareness, improving your self-direction, expanding your clarity, and boosting your self-esteem. Therefore, client-centered therapy may be beneficial if you’d like to address a range of things - depression, relationship issues, stress, anxiety. 

Each session will be tailored to your needs with the intention of helping you become more aware of your own behaviors, thoughts, etc. To achieve this your therapist will use three approaches/techniques - 

Genuineness. You can expect your therapist to show up to every session honestly - they will openly share their thoughts and feelings, encouraging you to do the same. Open communication is absolutely essential - vulnerability builds trust between the two of you!
Unconditional Positive Regard. Receiving conditional support can feel as though you are under constant judgment, resulting in turning on your natural defenses. Unconditional positive regard works to eliminate just that - no matter how ‘far out’ or ‘unconventional’ your thoughts or feelings may be, your therapist is going to accept them unconditionally and work to understand where you are coming from. 
Empathetic understanding. Above all else your therapist will be actively listening and engaging to all that you are sharing. Your therapist's goal is to be able to truly understand things from your perspective. They are looking to essentially ‘feel’ what is behind the content you are sharing. Empathetic understanding allows you to make decisions on your own without basing your thoughts and feelings off of your therapist's reactions or opinions. 

How do I know if this approach is best for me? 

Much like any therapeutic approach, there are things to consider before jumping in. Client-centered therapy can be extremely effective in the area of self improvement - increased self - esteem, improved communication skills, greater trust in yourself, and the list goes on. However, to reap such benefits you will have to consider a more open-ended approach. Remember, this therapy has less structure, can be time consuming, requires you to really take the lead, and does not aim to solve specific problems. 

If you have had previous fears or have felt immense judgment from previous therapist’s, then client-centered therapy may be a great way for you to experience an atmosphere that encompasses unconditional positive regard and empathy. 

growgood psychology has a team of therapists ready to walk alongside you as you navigate your ideal therapeutic approach.
Your therapeutic preference is unique to you and may change over time. With empathy and compassion, our therapists at growgood psychology are ready to support you. Take that first step and Connect with us now to begin healing with our client-centered therapists!