Person Centred Therapy
What is Person Centred Therapy?
Carl Rogers was the founder of the person-centred approach to counselling and therapy. His vision was to support clients in reaching their unique potential and becoming fully themselves — to live as their most authentic, alive, and free self.
The central hypothesis of this approach is that every person has within themselves
“vast resources for self-understanding, for altering their self-concept, attitudes, and self-directed behaviour — and that these resources can be tapped only if a definable climate of facilitative psychological attitudes can be provided.”
— Rogers, 1986
“The person-centred approach, then, is primarily a way of being that finds its expression in attitudes and behaviours that promote a growth-promoting climate. It is a basic philosophy rather than simply a technique or method.”
– Carl Rogers.
The three core conditions Rogers regarded as necessary and sufficient for therapeutic change are:
• Empathy — deeply understanding and feeling with the client.
• Congruence — authenticity and transparency from the therapist.
• Unconditional Positive Regard — complete acceptance and non-judgment.
(Rogers, 1957)
As Rogers described:
“The person-centred approach, then, is primarily a way of being that finds its expression in attitudes and behaviours that promote a growth-promoting climate. It is a basic philosophy rather than simply a technique or method.”
This climate invites clients to move toward self-actualization and wholeness — guided by an inherent, life-affirming actualizing tendency, which Rogers saw as essentially positive and deeply human.
“The most impressive fact about the individual human being seems to be the directional tendency toward wholeness, toward actualization of potentialities.”
— Rogers, 1977
How can Person Centred Therapy Help?
When these attitudinal conditions are truly present, clients begin to feel safe enough to explore their inner world, release old blockages, and reconnect with their own inner compass.
The person-centred approach suggests that psychological difficulties arise when this natural actualizing tendency is blocked. The task of therapy is not to “fix” the client, but to create a space where their inner wisdom can emerge, allowing them to naturally move toward healing and growth.
As Rogers beautifully wrote:
“I have formed some philosophical impressions of the life and goal toward which the individual moves when he is free.”
My approach
Person-centred therapy is the heartbeat of my practice — it shapes not only what I do, but who I am when I sit with you.
When I left Brazil and moved alone to London at 25, without speaking English and with only a small amount of money, I was guided by an unshakable inner belief that life could hold something meaningful for me. I trusted my inner voice and learned to deeply listen to my own needs, fears, and hopes — to hold myself with compassion, even in the most vulnerable moments.
This embodied trust and presence now form the foundation of how I work with my clients. In our sessions, I bring not only empathy and acceptance but also my whole self: my warmth, openness, and my attuned, grounded presence.
I invite you to come home to your body — to listen to the subtle sensations, the breath, the quiet whispers of your inner world. By integrating body awareness and mindfulness, we create a space where you can gently reconnect with your authentic self, beyond stories and old patterns.
Through this deeply relational, embodied, and human way of working, you are encouraged to rediscover your own strength, creativity, and capacity for choice. Together, we nurture your inherent ability to grow, heal, and live a life that feels true and whole.
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“I have formed some philosophical impressions of the life and goal toward which the individual moves when he is free”.
– Carl Rogers
Please get in touch
Alternatively, you can call me on 07449 484819
Feel free to text my mobile number with your name and telephone number and I will phone you back as soon as I am available.
– Janaina
