OUR APPROACH

At The Loft Counselling we have adopted a client-centred approach to individual, couples and group therapy.

Client-Centred therapy is built on the idea that you are the expert on your own life, and with the right kind of tools and support, you can change your outlook and find your own solutions.​

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Essential to this, Stephen Porges’ work on Polyvagal Theory outlines the necessary elements for positive change to occur; that is, the therapeutic relationship is embedded in safety and trust. 

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WHAT IS CLIENT-CENTRED THERAPY?

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Client-centred therapy (also known as person-centred therapy) is a type of talk therapy developed during the 1940s and 1950s by humanist psychologist Carl Rogers. Rogers is widely regarded as one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century.

He believed that people are the experts on their own lives and experiences.

Before Rogers’ theories on humanistic psychology, traditionally, there was a power imbalance in the therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the client. Rogers’ theories gave way to a new, reciprocal relationship within the counselling session, emphasising that your experience (as the client) is just as valid as a professional’s insight.

In Rogerian therapy, the two parties in the therapeutic relationship should be viewed as equals, without any judgment cast.

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​WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?

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Essentially, it is a non-directive form of talk therapy where each person in attendance is an equal partner in the therapy process.

It emphasises the client's inherent ability to grow and find their own solutions, with the therapist acting as a supportive guide rather than a dictator.

Importantly, it requires the counsellor to understand how the world works from the client’s perspective. 

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WHAT ARE THE CORE FUNDAMENTALS OF CLIENT-CENTRED THERAPY?

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UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD

The counsellor accepts you without judgment, no matter what you bring into the room. 

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EMPATHY

The counsellor will endeavour to understand your experience from your lens or point of view.

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CONGRUENCE (or genuineness)

The counsellor is authentic during the therapeutic session. 

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WHAT OUTCOMES DOES IT AIM TO ACHIEVE?

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The goals of this practice include increasing self-awareness, improving the client's ability to use self-direction to make desired changes, increase clarity, improve self-esteem, and boost self-reliance.

It’s important to remember that the purpose of therapy isn’t always restricted to completely overcoming a difficult time in your life. It could also be a means of learning to accept yourself as you really are and letting go of guilt over past mistakes.

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