Carl R. Rogers
Carl R. Rogers was an influential American psychologist and the founder of person-centered therapy, a humanistic approach to psychotherapy. Born into a family that emphasized hard work and education, Rogers excelled academically, eventually earning his doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University. His professional journey included significant positions at various institutions, including the Ohio State University and the University of Chicago, culminating in the establishment of the Center for Studies of the Person in 1968.
Rogers is renowned for his seven principles of person-centered therapy, which emphasize the client's central role in their healing process. Key components include the therapist acting as a facilitator rather than a directive authority, fostering an environment of unconditional positive regard, and practicing empathy by understanding the client's perspective. The principles of trust and congruence highlight the importance of mutual respect and authenticity between the therapist and client. Rogers's contributions to psychology have had a lasting impact on therapeutic practices, promoting a compassionate and client-driven approach to mental health care. He passed away on February 4, 1987, leaving a legacy that continues to influence the field today.
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Subject Terms
Carl R. Rogers
- Born: January 8, 1902
- Place of Birth: Oak Park, Illinois
- Died: February 4, 1987
- Place of Death: La Jolla, California
Carl R. Rogers is best known as the founder of person-centered therapy.
TYPE OF PSYCHOLOGY: Psychotherapy
Life
Carl R. Rogers was the fourth of six children. His parents were living monuments to the Protestant work ethic, which had a lifelong effect on Rogers’s character. Rogers proved to be a bright and able student in school, though he was given to daydreaming. Still, there was never any question in his family that Rogers would attend college. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin and took his doctoral degree in clinical and at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Rogers held a number of important positions during his professional career. After finishing graduate school, he worked in human services for the state of New York. His first academic position was at the Ohio State University. He then became director of the Guidance Center at the University of Chicago. In 1957, he accepted a teaching position at the University of Wisconsin, where he served until he moved to the Western Behavioral Science Institute in California. In 1968, Rogers founded the Center for Studies of the Person.
Rogers is best known as the founder of person-centered therapy. He outlined seven principles that characterize the approach. The first is facilitation. The client is responsible for his or her own healing. The therapist is merely the facilitator, mirroring back what the client says. The second principle is problem. The client’s personal problem is the focal point around which therapy sessions are organized. The client has to decide what is the correct course of action for addressing his or her problem. The third principle is realness. The therapist must set aside any artificial guise that he or she may wear and become a “real person.” The client must follow suit and drop any pretenses during the therapy sessions. The fourth principle is prizing. The therapist must express unconditional regard for the client. Each person is of inherent worth. The fifth principle is empathy. The therapist must become a nonjudgmental listener. He or she must come to view the world through the client’s eyes. The sixth principle is trust. The therapist must trust the client’s judgment. Whatever decision the client makes regarding his or her problem, the therapist must support the decision because it represents the “right” one for the client at the time. The seventh principle is congruence. The process of psychotherapy is a two-sided coin. Just as the therapist must express empathy, trust, and prizing for the client, so the client must reciprocate and express the same qualities for the therapist. When everything falls into place—all seven principles are acted on—real change can take place in human character.
In 1987, Rogers fractured his pelvis after a fall. Although he had a successful operation, his liver failed the next day and he then had a heart attack. Rogers died on February 4, 1987.
Bibliography
Cherry, Kendra. "Carl Rogers Psychologist Biography." VeryWell Mind, 2 Dec. 2022, www.verywellmind.com/carl-rogers-biography-1902-1987-2795542. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.
Goleman, Daniel. "Carl R. Rogers, 85, Leader in Psychotherapy, Dies." The New York Times, 6 Feb. 1987, www.nytimes.com/1987/02/06/obituaries/carl-r-rogers-85-leader-in-psychotherapy-dies.html. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.
Kirschenbaum, Howard. Life and Work of Carl Rogers. Amer. Counseling Assn., 2009.
Lux, Michael, Renate Motschnig-Pitrik, and Jeffrey H. Cornelius-White. Interdisciplinary Handbook of the Person-Centered Approach: Research and Theory. Springer, 2013.
Rogers, Carl R., and David E. Russell. Carl Rogers—The Quiet Revolutionary: An Oral History. Penmarin, 2002.
Rogers, Carl R., Reinhard Tausch, and Harold C. Lyon. On Becoming an Effective Teacher: Person-Centred Teaching, Psychology, Philosophy, and Dialogues with Carl R. Rogers. Routledge, 2013.
Thorne, Brian, and Pete Sanders. Carl Rogers. 3rd ed., Sage, 2013.