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client-centered therapy

client-centered therapy

6.8
A way of helping someone talk about their feelings where the person leads sessions at their own pace
  • noun
  • /ˈklaɪənt ˈsɛntərd ˈθɛrəpi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : terapia centrada en el cliente
  • Many therapists prefer client-centered therapy for its focus on personal experience.

Examples

  • Many therapists trained in client-centered therapy encourage clients to explore feelings at their own pace.

  • A key principle of client-centered therapy is showing unconditional positive regard without directing the client's choices.

  • After several sessions of client-centered therapy, she reported feeling more confident and self-aware in daily life.

  • In client-centered therapy, the client is encouraged to lead the conversation.

  • In client-centered therapy, the therapist listens and responds to the client's individual feelings and needs.

  • She found that client-centered therapy allowed her to express her emotions freely during the sessions.

  • Client-centered therapy emphasizes that each client is the expert on their own experiences and feelings.

Synonyms

psychotherapy
vsclient-centered therapy
  • Specialized
24 5.8

Treatment that uses talking with a trained person to help problems with feelings or thinking

focuses on sessions the person leads themselves stressing their agency

Antonyms

1 5.9

Giving clear instructions to guide others

How Client-Led

client-centered therapy
  • Specialized
6.8
therapy
862 3.2
directive
1 5.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

client-centered + therapy

The meaning 'a form of therapy focused on the client's experience and agency' is directly derivable from combining 'client' + 'centered' (centered on the client) with 'therapy' (treatment). The construction is a straightforward adjective+noun composition that follows common patterns in English (and similar patterns in many other languages), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should understand it.

Etymology

The term client-centered therapy comes from the simple image of putting the client at the very center of the session — being centered — so the therapist listens and follows the client's lead instead of directing them. That's why it means letting the client 'guide' how the sessions go.