PYC4809
Assignment 2
DUE : 21 JULY 2026
, Assignment 02: Compulsory Assignment
Unique Number: 543081
Section A
1. Briefly Describe a Therapeutic Approach: Person-Centred Therapy
Person-Centred Therapy, also known as client-centred or Rogerian therapy, is a humanistic
approach to psychotherapy developed by Carl Rogers in the 1940s and 1950s. This
therapeutic approach emerged as a reaction against the deterministic nature of
psychoanalysis and behaviourism, offering a more optimistic and empowering perspective
on human nature and the therapeutic process. Person-Centred Therapy fundamentally
asserts that individuals possess vast potential for understanding themselves and resolving
their own problems without direct intervention from a therapist.
Core Theoretical Principles
The philosophical foundation of Person-Centred Therapy rests on several key assumptions
about human nature and the therapeutic process.
The Actualising Tendency: At the heart of Rogers' theory is the concept of the actualising
tendency the innate drive within every individual to grow, develop, and fulfil their potential.
Rogers believed that humans are essentially trustworthy and possess an inherent capacity
for self-healing and personal growth. This positive view of human nature stands in stark
contrast to the pessimistic assumptions of psychoanalysis, which emphasises unconscious
conflicts and destructive instincts.
The Self-Concept: Central to Rogers' theory is the notion of self-concept, which he
defined as "the organised, consistent set of perceptions and beliefs about oneself". The
self-concept encompasses all the ideas, values, and characteristics that define "I" and "me,"
and includes an individual's perception and evaluation of "what I am" and "what I can do".
Assignment 2
DUE : 21 JULY 2026
, Assignment 02: Compulsory Assignment
Unique Number: 543081
Section A
1. Briefly Describe a Therapeutic Approach: Person-Centred Therapy
Person-Centred Therapy, also known as client-centred or Rogerian therapy, is a humanistic
approach to psychotherapy developed by Carl Rogers in the 1940s and 1950s. This
therapeutic approach emerged as a reaction against the deterministic nature of
psychoanalysis and behaviourism, offering a more optimistic and empowering perspective
on human nature and the therapeutic process. Person-Centred Therapy fundamentally
asserts that individuals possess vast potential for understanding themselves and resolving
their own problems without direct intervention from a therapist.
Core Theoretical Principles
The philosophical foundation of Person-Centred Therapy rests on several key assumptions
about human nature and the therapeutic process.
The Actualising Tendency: At the heart of Rogers' theory is the concept of the actualising
tendency the innate drive within every individual to grow, develop, and fulfil their potential.
Rogers believed that humans are essentially trustworthy and possess an inherent capacity
for self-healing and personal growth. This positive view of human nature stands in stark
contrast to the pessimistic assumptions of psychoanalysis, which emphasises unconscious
conflicts and destructive instincts.
The Self-Concept: Central to Rogers' theory is the notion of self-concept, which he
defined as "the organised, consistent set of perceptions and beliefs about oneself". The
self-concept encompasses all the ideas, values, and characteristics that define "I" and "me,"
and includes an individual's perception and evaluation of "what I am" and "what I can do".
