Humanistic and Client-Centered Therapies

[Ready for Fall 2026]

Modified: 2026-08-03 11:58 AM CDST

• Having clients (not patients, note the difference) achieve insight into their problems is the goal of humanistic and client-centered therapy.
  • Humanistic and client-centered therapists reject the medical model and it hierarchical assumptions.
    • In its place, they substitute a model where therapists and clients are equal.
    • Further, therapists see themselves as facilitators of the clients' "cure."
  • More importantly, humanistic and client-centered therapists deny the working of hidden forces and, instead, concentrate on the here and now of real life, emphasizing free will and self-knowledge.

• Carl Roger's client-centered therapy emphasized the importance of clients' self-understanding.
  • He saw his role as one of simply understanding the client and reflecting the client's thoughts and speech.
    • He did not fear becoming involved and open with clients.
  • Rogers promoted accepting patients as they were, providing them with "unconditional positive regard," and empathy.
    • Without those, he believed, therapeutic progress was impossible.
• Contrast that approach to the psychoanalytic therapist's attitude of aloofness and detachment.