In defense of Carl Rogers

I remember learning about Carl Rogers in my master's program. We couldn't believe all you had to do was listen to a client. Where were the tricks? The techniques? Listening isn't doing something.

The longer I'm in this field, the more I realize Rogers got it right. We therapists might want more, but all our clients want is to know someone is listening to them and accepting them unconditionally. It's not even a client issue. It's what people want.  

We are all so eager to learn the latest modality and add initials to our business cards. When is the last time you went to a workshop dedicated to person centered therapy? Took a refresher course in one of the bedrock theories of our profession? 

Here's the crazy thing. Every theory, every modality, every technique you use contains elements of PCT. Every...single...one. But we treat it like an appetizer instead of the main course.

The next ceu workshop you go to, the speaker might spend a few minutes on active listening & empathy before moving on their shiny new therapy toy. And let's be honest: 9 times out of 10 they are selling you old cognitive behavioral therapy repackaged with new vocabulary. 

I am unapologetic about my reverence for Carl Rogers. You ask me what theories I use in my practice. I will tell you CBT and PCT. I get the feeling people expect more. But why do I need a mango splitter, banana slicer, apple corer, and butter spreader when I already have a good knife?   

PCT isn't sexy. It's not hip and trendy. You'll never get a crowd of people to sit for 7 hours learning about a theory older than they are. 

But it still works. 

Rogers got it right. 

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