Edwin Kahn's Website

Carl Rogers' Philosophy

Carl Rogers (1902 - 1987) was a founder of Humanistic Psychology, and remains one of the most influential psychotherapist in American history.

Listening

Rogers emphasized the importance of listening from the perspective of the other. For example, Rogers in 1942 said, "there is the greatest temptation... to inform the client as to his patterns, to interpret his actions and his personality to him... To resist this temptation to interpret too quickly, to recognize that insight is an experience which is achieved, not an experience which can be imposed, is an important step in progress for the counselor." Psychoanalysts are now coming to appreciate Rogers's point of view, but have not given him credit for his new way of thinking.

A Way of Being

In a therapeutic relationship Rogers never wanted to have an agenda for or guide a person in any way. The therapist's role is to go at the other's pace, and to appreciate that each person is the best expert on his/her life. This process of attempting to avoid opinions, biases, and the imposition of values on another, while being accepting, understanding, and genuine is not very easy, and can not be learned from textbooks. It is a way of being that is probably learned best in personal relationships.

Against the Medical Model

Rogers didn't care for the term "patient" since he didn't think people with emotional conflicts were "sick." He had no desire to "analyze" people, and he objected to the "medical model," where the doctor is an expert with considerable power. Rogers sought to empower people by listening to them, valuing them and trusting them.

Other Applications of Rogerian Theory

Rogers, in the last decades of his life, came to realize that the ideas he discovered in the field of psychotherapy, applied to all human relationships. He became interested in applying his ideas to a broader range of activities: in family relationships, education, business management, intercultural affairs and conflict resolution. In this respect his ideas are permeating our culture in self help groups, the classroom and parenting.