The Person-Centred Approach was developed by Carl Rogers (1902-1987).
At the heart of this approach is the basic trust in human beings and in the movement of every organism toward constructive fulfilment of its, his, or her possibilities (from Carl R. Rogers. Way of Being. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1980, p.117).
Rogers stated that ‘Individuals have within themselves vast resources for self-understanding and for altering their self-concepts, basic attitudes, and self-directed behaviour; these resources can be tapped if a definable climate of facilitative psychological attitudes can be provided.’ (from Carl R. Rogers. Way of Being. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1980, p.115-117).
He pointed to three core conditions as providing a growth-promoting climate. These core conditions are: congruence, unconditional positive regard and empathy (see ‘What is the Person-Centred Approach’). Rogers believed that when these core conditions are provided, movement in a constructive direction will occur in the person receiving these conditions.