According to Carl Rogers, unconditional positive regard involves basic acceptance and support of a person, regardless of what the person says or does. The therapist gives space for the client to express whatever immediate feeling is going on—confusion, resentment, fear, anger, courage, love, or pride.
Discuss the role of the therapist’s personality in person-centered psychotherapy.
Are there particular people who have been or would be especially difficult for you to unconditionally positively regard?
Sample Answer
According to Carl Rogers, unconditional positive regard (UPR) is a cornerstone of person-centered psychotherapy, emphasizing basic acceptance and support of a person irrespective of their words or actions. It provides a safe space for clients to express any immediate feeling, be it confusion, resentment, fear, anger, courage, love, or pride.
The Role of the Therapist's Personality in Person-Centered Psychotherapy
In person-centered psychotherapy, the therapist's personality plays a less overt, but profoundly crucial, role compared to other therapeutic modalities. Rogers emphasized that the therapist's core attitudes or "conditions of worth" ( congruence, unconditional positive regard, and accurate empathic understanding) are the primary therapeutic ingredients, rather than specific techniques or the therapist's personal charisma.
However, the therapist's personality manifests in how genuinely and consistently they can embody these core conditions. It's not about being a specific "type" of person, but about the extent to which one can authentically and deeply embrace these facilitative attitudes:
- Congruence (Genuineness): This is perhaps where personality is most evident. A therapist's ability to be truly authentic, transparent, and integrated in the therapeutic relationship is vital. If a therapist's personality makes them prone to defensiveness, facades, or an inability to acknowledge their own feelings (even internally), their congruence will be compromised. A therapist who is naturally open, self-aware, and comfortable with vulnerability will find it easier to be congruent. Clients perceive this genuineness, which fosters trust and a real connection.According to Carl Rogers, unconditional positive regard (UPR) is a cornerstone of person-centered psychotherapy, emphasizing basic acceptance and support of a person irrespective of their words or actions.@