Person-centred therapy is a wonderfully rich set of therapeutic approaches. This workshop will introduce participants to this diverse and colourful field, from its roots in the non-directive counselling of Carl Rogers to its many different contemporary forms. Our journey through the tribes of person-centred therapy will include the classical approach, focusing, emotion-focused therapy, creative person-centred practices, pre-therapy, person-centred experiential counselling for depression, motivational interviewing, relational approaches, and integrative/pluralistic perspective. For each of these tribes, we will explore their development and core assumptions; and participants will have an opportunity to get a lived ‘feel’ of these approaches through videos of practice and/or experiential exercises. The workshop is appropriate for training and practising counsellors, psychotherapists, counselling psychologists and other mental health professionals. This workshop is particularly orientated to students or practitioners of the person-centred approach who have—or are developing—a good understanding of the core assumptions and practice, but would like to know more of the diversity that the approach offers.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • recognise the main branches of person-centred therapy

  • articulate differences and similarities between the branches

  • position their own perspectives and practices amongst the branches

Schedule

  • Session 1: Introduction, classical client-centred therapy, child-centred play therapy

  • Session 2: Focusing-oriented therapy, emotion-focused therapy

  • Session 3: Dialogical/relational approaches, creative person-centred practices, pre-therapy

  • Session 4: Motivational interviewing, pluralistic/integrative person-centred approaches, discussion

Format

This workshop is typically delivered as a one day event.

The workshop combines self-development exercises, theoretical input, practical exercises, and small and large group discussion.

The workshop is appropriate for training and practising counsellors, psychotherapists, counselling psychologists and other mental health professionals.

Resources

This blog post provides an overview of the different person-centred branches.

The tribes of the person-centred nation (PCCS Books) is a key text that covers the approaches to person-centred therapy discussed in this workshop.