Glossary & Frequently Asked Questions
My training as a counsellor is based on Person-Centred Therapy. Below are some of the terms you may hear me use when describing how counselling can support you.
You’ll also find answers to some of the most common questions people ask about the counselling process.
If you have a question or would like anything explained in more detail, please feel free to get in touch.
Person-Centred Counselling
A type of talking therapy where you’re treated as the expert on your own life. The counsellor listens without judging and helps you explore your thoughts and feelings so you can find your own answers.
Core Conditions
Three key attitudes your counsellor will offer you at all times:
Empathy – Really trying to understand how life feels for you, from your point of view.
Unconditional Positive Regard – Accepting you just as you are, without judgement or criticism.
Congruence – Being genuine and honest with you, rather than hiding behind a professional mask.
Active Listening
When your counsellor listens with their full attention—not just to your words, but also to your tone, body language, and feelings—so you feel truly heard.
Non-Directive Approach
You lead the conversation. The counsellor won’t tell you what to do but will support you in exploring what feels most important to you.
Self-Actualisation
A fancy term for your natural ability to grow, heal, and become the version of yourself that feels most authentic and fulfilled.
Unconditional Acceptance
Knowing you won’t be judged for your feelings, mistakes, or past experiences—everything you bring is welcome.
Reflecting
When the counsellor says back, in their own words, what they’ve understood you to mean. This helps you feel heard and can sometimes make your thoughts clearer to you.
Holding Space
Creating a safe, calm environment where you can talk openly, even about difficult things, without fear of criticism or unwanted advice.
Conditions of Worth
The rules or beliefs we pick up—often from others—about what we have to do or be to feel loved or valued. Counselling can help you recognise and gently challenge these.
Authenticity
Being your true self, without having to hide parts of who you are to please others.
Therapeutic Relationship
The trusting, respectful connection between you and your counsellor that makes it safe to open up.
Processing
Taking time to think about, feel, and understand your experiences, often with your counsellor’s support.
Inner Resources
The strengths, skills, and coping tools you already have inside you—even if you don’t feel like it right now.
Growth-Promoting Environment
The safe, accepting space your counsellor creates so you can explore and grow at your own pace.
Frequently Asked Questions: Person-Centred Therapy (PCT)
1. What is Person-Centred Therapy?
Person-Centred Therapy (also called Client-Centred Therapy) is a humanistic approach developed by Carl Rogers. It focuses on providing a non-judgemental, empathic, and accepting environment so that clients can explore their thoughts and feelings at their own pace. The therapist does not offer advice or direction but instead supports the client's ability to find their own solutions.
2. How is PCT different from other types of therapy?
PCT is non-directive, meaning the therapist does not lead or interpret the client's experiences. In contrast, therapies like CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) are more structured and focused on specific strategies. PCT emphasizes the relationship between therapist and client as the key healing factor.
3. Does Person-Centred Therapy work for neurodiverse individuals (e.g., Autism, ADHD)?
✅ Potentially Helpful – with Considerations
PCT can be helpful for neurodiverse clients if the therapist is neurodiversity-affirming and adapts their approach. The accepting, non-judgemental nature of PCT can help build trust and self-understanding. However, some neurodivergent clients may prefer more structure, direct feedback, or practical strategies, which PCT typically does not provide.
Best suited for: clients seeking emotional support, identity exploration, or those affected by masking, burnout, or rejection.
4. Is PCT effective for people with personality disorders (e.g., BPD, NPD)?
⚠️ Sometimes – but not always appropriate as a sole approach
Person-Centred Therapy may be helpful for individuals with personality disorders if they are emotionally stable enough to engage in self-reflection and build a therapeutic relationship. However, personality disorders like Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) or Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) often require structured, integrative treatments like DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) or Schema Therapy.
PCT can be supportive but is not typically recommended as the primary treatment for more severe or complex presentations.
5. Can Person-Centred Therapy help with addictions?
⚠️ Supportive, but not always sufficient
PCT can be a valuable part of addiction recovery by providing a safe, non-judgemental space to explore feelings, trauma, and self-worth. However, addiction often requires more structured interventions, such as CBT, Motivational Interviewing (MI), or 12-Step Facilitation. PCT may not address cravings, relapse prevention, or behavioural patterns directly.
Best used alongside other treatment methods.
6. Is PCT suitable for people with serious psychiatric conditions (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)?
⚠️ Limited effectiveness as a standalone therapy
PCT is generally not considered the primary treatment for acute psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. These conditions usually require medical management (e.g., medication) and structured psychotherapeutic approaches. PCT may provide emotional support or help reduce stigma, but it’s not designed to treat psychosis, mania, or other severe symptoms.
Use with caution and only as part of a broader treatment plan.
7. What kind of problems is Person-Centred Therapy best for?
✅ Most effective for:
Mild to moderate anxiety or depression
Low self-esteem or self-worth issues
Grief and loss
Relationship difficulties
Identity exploration
Life transitions
General emotional distress
It is particularly effective for clients who feel unheard, judged, or invalidated, and want a safe, empathetic environment to explore themselves.
8. Is Person-Centred Therapy structured? Will I have goals or homework?
❌ No. PCT is non-directive and does not involve formal goals, agendas, or homework. The client decides what to talk about each session. This can feel freeing for some, but unhelpful for others who need structure and guidance.
9. Will the therapist give me advice or tell me what to do?
❌ No. In PCT, the therapist does not give advice or tell you what choices to make. They believe in your capacity to find your own answers through self-exploration and acceptance.
10. Can Person-Centred Therapy be combined with other therapies?
✅ Yes. PCT is often combined with other modalities (e.g., CBT, DBT, trauma therapy) in an integrative approach. This is especially helpful when clients have complex needs that PCT alone may not address.
11. What should I look for in a Person-Centred Therapist?
Look for someone who:
Is trained in PCT or humanistic therapy
Demonstrates empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence (authenticity)
Can adapt their communication style to your needs (especially for neurodiverse clients)
Is honest about what PCT can and cannot offer
12. What if PCT doesn’t work for me?
That’s okay. No single therapy works for everyone. If you find PCT too open-ended or lacking in structure, you might benefit from a more directive or evidence-based approach. A good therapist will support you in finding what’s right for you—even if that means trying a different modality.