Counseling Theory

For this case, I’m choosing Person-Centered Therapy (PCT), also known as Rogerian therapy. I was drawn to this theory because it aligns with my belief that the therapeutic relationship is the heart of effective counseling. Carl Rogers developed PCT in the 1940s as a non-directive and client-centered approach grounded in the idea that people have an inherent drive toward personal growth and self-understanding (Yao & Kabir, 2023). What stands out most to me is the emphasis on creating an environment of unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence. These core conditions provide the client with space to explore their feelings without judgment or pressure, which I believe is especially important for someone like Ms. Z who is experiencing deep emotional pain.

PCT avoids imposing interpretations or treatment goals from the outside, instead trusting the client’s capacity to identify and move toward their own healing. I think that approach is empowering, especially for clients who have felt unseen or unheard in other parts of their life. According to Yao and Kabir (2023), when a therapist is authentic and communicates empathic understanding, the client begins to experience themselves more fully and accept their internal experience. That resonates with me and how I want to work with clients.

Presenting Issues

Ms. Z is a 35-year-old single mother of two who recently reported suicidal ideation and was referred for outpatient therapy for major depressive disorder. She’s been struggling with symptoms of depression since childhood, but her symptoms have worsened over the past three years following her divorce. She also described a distant relationship with her own mother and limited support at home growing up. While she has a job and some college education, she reports feeling stuck and overwhelmed.

The presenting issues include ongoing depressive symptoms, lack of social and emotional support, and feelings of hopelessness. These issues are likely to impact Ms. Z’s ability to function in her roles as a parent and an employee, and her suicidal ideation suggests a high level of distress and disconnection from any sense of purpose or agency in her life. From a PCT perspective, I’d also consider the possible incongruence between how she sees herself and how she’s functioning in the world. That gap is often a major source of internal conflict in this approach (Yao & Kabir, 2023).

Treatment Goals

Since person-centered therapy is non-directive, the goals are developed collaboratively with the client. However, based on her presenting concerns, some preliminary goals might include:

• Helping Ms. Z explore and express her emotions in a safe and accepting environment.
• Supporting her in identifying internal strengths and values that can guide her forward.
• Encouraging her to develop greater self-acceptance and reduce self-critical thoughts.
• Strengthening her sense of agency and trust in her ability to make decisions.

The focus isn’t on symptom elimination but on creating a space where Ms. Z can reconnect with herself in a more honest and compassionate way. As she does, the symptoms may become more manageable or even start to lessen as a byproduct of this internal shift (Yao & Kabir, 2023).

Action Plan

The plan of action will center around building a strong therapeutic alliance, as that’s the foundation of person-centered therapy. Interventions will include empathic listening, reflection, and maintaining a consistent and nonjudgmental presence. I won’t give advice or set an agenda. Instead, I’ll follow Ms. Z’s lead and offer validation and support as she works through her thoughts and feelings.

The aim is to help her feel truly seen and heard—maybe for the first time in a long time. As she experiences the core conditions of empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard in therapy, she may begin to internalize those attitudes toward herself. Research has shown that person-centered therapy can be just as effective as cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression in the short term, especially when therapist qualities are strong (Barkham et al., 2021; Yao & Kabir, 2023).

Because Ms. Z has a long history with depression and limited support, I’ll be mindful not to rush the process. I’ll also watch for moments when she shows emotional insight, as those can be signs of movement toward change.

APA Ethics Code

Several APA ethical principles are relevant here. First, Principle A: Beneficence and Nonmaleficence reminds us to do no harm and to maximize benefit to the client (APA, 2017). This applies to how I handle any disclosures of suicidal ideation or serious emotional risk. It also reinforces the need to maintain a safe therapeutic space.

Principle E: Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity is also highly relevant. PCT aligns strongly with this principle by emphasizing the client’s autonomy, worth, and capacity for growth. Since Ms. Z is an African American woman with a history of being emotionally unsupported, it’s critical that I recognize and affirm her lived experience and cultural context (Yao & Kabir, 2023).

Finally, Standard 10.10: Terminating Therapy is something I’ll keep in mind, especially if Ms. Z becomes disengaged or is unable to access care due to systemic barriers like cost, time, or stigma. This will require honest communication and planning to avoid harm or abandonment.

References

American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. https://www.apa.org/ethics/code

Barkham, M., Saxon, D., Hardy, G. E., et al. (2021). Person-centred experiential therapy versus cognitive behavioural therapy for depression: A pragmatic, randomized, non-inferiority trial. The Lancet Psychiatry, 8(6), 487–499.

Yao, L., & Kabir, R. (2023). Person-centered therapy (Rogerian therapy). StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537287/