The Characteristics of a Person-Centered Approach to Therapy and Counseling: Criteria for identity and coherence / Die charakteristischen Merkmale eines Personzentrierten Ansatzes in Therapie und Beratung: Identitäts- und Kohärenzkriterien / Las características de un enfoque centrado en la persona en la terapia y el counseling: criterios para identidad y coherencia

Abstract

This article looks in two directions in order to contribute to the search for the identity and future of the person-centered and experiential paradigms: into the interior of the person-centered and experiential ‘family’ (where are we and what are our relationships?); and to the outside (where are the other orientations and what could be our contribution to the realm of psychotherapy as a whole?). It examines criteria for a coherent and distinguishing person-centered conception after the paradigm shift we owe to Rogers, gives reasons for the necessity for ongoing dialogue and mutual challenge among the branches of person-centered and experiential therapies, and discusses some of the consequences for psychotherapy in general.