Carl Rogers
3 specific qualities for building a relationship
and active listening:
Especially with young people the outcome depends
highly of the counselor-client relationship.
Carl Rogers - 3 specific qualities:
• Congruence: Open, authentic, communication in which the way I present
myself to the client. Rogers: "I have found, in my relations with persons, that in
the long run it does not help to pretend to be something I am not.“
• Empathic understanding: to try to take in and accept a client's perceptions
and feelings as if they were your own, but without losing your boundary/sense
of self.
• Respect: acceptance, unconditional positive regard towards the client.
The technique of active listening/paraphrasing:
• The statements of the client are repeated in one owns words
• Technique to verify if we understood the client in the right way –
misunderstanding can be eliminated immediately
• Feedback of the emotions one has decoded of the messages of the sender.
• No advice and judgement, no analyzing questions.
• Emotions and feelings are normal; one can talk about them even if they are
negative or aggressive.
• Active listening should not be used to manipulate people
• You should have enough time for this method.
• Active listening is not always appropriate, e.g. if the client needs information or
he/she shows signs of impatience
Rogers, C. (2003): Client-Centred Therapy: Its Current Practice, Implications, and
Theory. Constable