NUMBER 43 • 12 JUNE 2002 • THE COUNSELLING RELATIONSHIP
INDEX OF QUOTES

The primary point of importance here is the attitude held by the counsellor toward the worth and the significance of the individual.

How do we look upon others? Do we see each person as having worth and dignity in his own right? If we do hold this point of view at the verbal level, to what extent is it operationally evident at the behavioural level? Do we tend to treat individuals as persons of worth, or do we subtly devalue them by our attitudes and behaviour? Is our philosophy one in which respect for the individual is uppermost? Do we respect his capacity and his right to self-direction, or do we basically believe that his life would be best guided by us? To what extent do we have a need and a desire to dominate others? Are we willing for the individual to select and choose his own values, or are our actions guided by the conviction (usually unspoken) that he would be happiest if he permitted us to select for him his values and standards and goals?

 


CARL ROGERS
Rogers, C. (1951) Client-centred Therapy. London: Constable. p.20