Helping Skills: Unconditional Positive Regard For The Client

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One aspect from the helping skills textbook that has deeply impacted my perspective and use of helping skills is the concept of unconditional positive regard for the client. Prior to reading the helping skills, I feared that I could not be an efficient therapist or helper because I could foresee myself not being capable of giving unconditional positive regard in certain circumstances. Especially in circumstance relating to my hot buttons, racism and gender roles in society. I questioned how it would be possible to have positive regard for people who are have done atrocious things and feel no empathy for their actions. I knew I would be judgmental towards such clients and the essence of the helping model was to create a non-judgmental and empathic environment for the client in need. …show more content…
Specifically, the therapist must feel unconditional positive regard for the client. In addition, the client must experience the therapist’s empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence. Although, I loved the person-centered approach, it deterred me away from perusing a career as a therapist because I knew I would be faced with situations when I would have to give positive regard. I did not want to be inauthentic with future clients. If it was so important for the client to perceive unconditional positive regard and I could not give them that, then how could I be a good therapist? It also made me have less confident in my helping skills. I feared I would not be able to fully explore the clients’ feelings and thoughts if I was