What is Person Centred Therapy? And How Does It Fit into Integrative Counselling?

When I started my counselling training, I remember hearing the phrase “person centred” over and over again. At first, it sounded like jargon. But as I began to experience it in practice, both as a trainee therapist and in my own personal therapy, something clicked. This wasn’t just a theory. It was a way of being with another human that felt deeply respectful, accepting and healing.

If you’ve ever wondered what person centred therapy actually is, and how it might show up in sessions with me as an integrative therapist, this post is for you.

The Core of Person Centred Therapy: You Are the Expert on You

Person centred therapy was developed by Carl Rogers, who believed that people are inherently good and have the inner resources they need to grow. That might sound idealistic at first glance, especially if you’ve been through things that have left you feeling broken or disconnected from yourself. But at its heart, person centred therapy is about trusting that, given the right conditions, healing happens.

Rather than diagnosing, analysing or “fixing” you, a person centred therapist offers three key things: empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence (which means being real and honest with you). When you are met with these conditions, at your own pace, you begin to hear your own voice again. You begin to remember who you are underneath all the roles and expectations and pain.

It’s Not Advice Giving – And That’s Powerful

One of the things that surprises people about person centred therapy is how non-directive it can be. There is no advice-giving, no “homework”, no checklist of things to change. That might sound frustrating at first, especially if you’re used to being told what to do. But over time, many people find that being given space to come to their own insights is incredibly empowering.

In a world full of noise like social media, self-help books, podcasts, and other people’s opinions, therapy can become the one space where you are truly listened to, without being steered or judged. There’s something quietly transformative about that.

How I Use Person Centred Therapy in My Integrative Practice

As an integrative counsellor, person centred therapy forms the foundation of how I work. Even when I draw from other approaches, like psychodynamic theory or grounding techniques, the core of my practice is always relational. I don’t see myself as the expert in the room. I see us as two people meeting, and together we explore what you’re bringing.

For example, if you’re struggling with self-worth, I might gently reflect something back that I’ve noticed about the way you talk about yourself. Or I might stay quiet and hold space for you to feel what you’re feeling without rushing to fix it. These moments often feel simple on the surface, but they can be profoundly moving. There is so much power in being seen and accepted exactly as you are.

Sometimes, when appropriate, I may draw from other models to help deepen our work – but I always come back to that person centred stance: curiosity, acceptance, and a deep belief in your capacity to grow.

When You’ve Never Felt Fully Accepted Before

I’ve worked with many clients who grew up in environments where their emotions were dismissed or minimised. Or perhaps they were expected to be “the strong one”, the caretaker, the high achiever. In those roles, there was little room to just be human.

Person centred therapy gently challenges that. It says, “You don’t need to perform here.” You don’t have to be polished or perfect. You are welcome just as you are, messy, angry, grieving, unsure. All of you gets to be here.

That might sound simple, but for many people, it’s a new and deeply healing experience. Often, we don’t realise how much we’ve been holding in until someone offers us that kind of space.

It’s a Relationship. Not a Formula

Person centred therapy reminds us that healing happens in relationship. It isn’t about a therapist having all the answers. It’s about building trust, slowly and safely, so that you can begin to make sense of your own world in a way that feels grounded and true for you.

There’s no magic formula. There’s no one-size-fits-all. But there is a quality of presence and care that can begin to loosen old patterns and soften the harsh inner voices that so many of us carry.

Final Thoughts

If you are curious about therapy and wondering what approach might be right for you, know this: the relationship matters more than the modality. Person centred therapy, at its heart, is about being met with warmth, honesty, and respect, and I believe that’s the foundation of all good therapy, whatever other tools we might bring in.

As an integrative therapist, person centred values guide everything I do. It’s not about fixing you, it’s about walking alongside you as you remember your strength, your voice, and your worth.

You already have so much wisdom within you. Therapy is simply the space to help you hear it again.