Rachelle Whitaker

Person-centered (Rogerian)

Person-centered therapy, also known as client-centered therapy, focuses on the therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the client and the inherent ability for each individual to heal. It is not about trying to diagnose clients or fit them into a mold. The therapist is there to help the client by providing a comfortable and trusting space for them to examine themselves and develop their own solutions. The therapist's job is to try and facilitate the client's own understanding of the world, not to push them in any particular direction or teach them what to think. I strive to help my clients help themselves. I believe it is important for the client to feel seen and heard, as well as be given the space and opportunity to speak honestly, without fear of judgment. It is also important to try and build trust between therapist and client so the client will feel comfortable enough to talk about their most difficult experiences and deepest fears, and can trust that their therapist will not invalidate them.