The Person-Centered Therapist's
Frame of Reference

The Person-Centred Counsellor's Creed

The person-centred counsellor believes :

that every individual has the internal resources for growth ;

that when a counsellor offers the core conditions of congruence, unconditional positive regard and empathy, therapeutic movement will take place ;

that human nature is essentially constructive ;

that human nature is essentially social ;

that self-regard is a basic human need ;

that persons are motivated to seek the truth ;

that perceptions determine experience and behaviour ;

that the individual should be the primary reference point in any helping activity ;

that individuals should be related to as whole persons who are in the process of becoming ;

that persons should be treated as doing their best to grow and to preserve themselves given their current internal and external circumstances ;

that it is important to reject the pursuit of authority or control over others and to seek to share power.