Person-Centered Theory

Allison Rogers
King University
Person-Centered Theory

The Person-Centered Theory, also known as Client-Centered Theory, was developed by

Carl Rogers in 1951.
Rogers studied psychology and psychiatry at Columbia Universitys Teachers College,
where he earned a Ph.D. in 1931.
Studied and worked with troubled children at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Children and became the programs director in 1930.
During his time as a professor of psychology at University of Chicago, he helped to
establish a counselling center connected to the university. There he conducted studies
to determine effectiveness of his studies and developed his theory.
World news during this time focused on the ending of World War II in 1945 and the
Korean War.
(Editors of Encyclopaedia Britanica,
2016)
Major Concepts

Organism and The Self

(Fundamental concepts of the theory)

Organism: Perception of everything going on in and around the organism.

The Self:
Self-Concept: Perception one has about themselves.
Ideal Self: What one would like to be.
(Garner, 2014)
Major Concepts

Congruence and Incongruence

Congruence: When ones self-concept and ideal self are in agreement (or congruence)
sensible and realistic thinking is achieved
Incongruence: When ones self-concept and ideal self are not in alignment
(incongruence), tension occurs. This manifests as anxiety, causing defensiveness,
constrained thinking, and behavior problems.
(Garner, 2014)
Major Concepts

Positive-regard and Self-regard

(Learned needs, which influence behavior)

Positive-regard: Unconditional acceptance and support of an individual, regardless of

a persons actions.
Self-regard: Consideration and respect for ones self.
(Garner, 2014)
How can this theory be applied in
nursing?

Nurses should foster a patient-centered environment, which will influence behaviors of

the patient. Providing a calm, comforting, and supportive environment will decrease
tension and anxiety.
Adaptation of patient teaching to individual patient learning preferences and needs in
order for optimal learning to occur.
Understand what patients value in care and adjust care accordingly. Some value extra
time and teaching, others value privacy.
How can I use this theory in
Advanced Practice?

Patient education on disease process, as well as explanations of available treatment

options, enables the patient to remain active in their care.
Engage and value patients as human beings (positive-regard), much like you want to
be respected by your patients.
Understanding the uniqueness of each individual, providing a patient-centered
approach, and adjusting the plan of care accordingly increases the likelihood of
compliance with treatment regimens, resulting in better patient outcomes.
(Frosh & Tai-Seale, 2013; Roumie et al., 2011; Thorarinsdottir &Kristjansson,
2014)
References

Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica [Internet]. (2016). Carl Rogers: American

psychologist. Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Carl-Rogers
Frosch, D. L. & Tai-Seale, M. (2013). R-E-S-P-E-C-T: What it means to patients. Journal of
General Internal Medicine, 29(3), 427-428. Dio: 10.1007/s11606-013-2710-z
Garner, D. B. (2014). Theories from the behavioral sciences. In M. McEwen & E. M. Willis
(Eds.), Theoretical Basis for Nursing (4th ed.) (pp. 305-330). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters
Kluwer Health/ Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Roumie, C. L., Greevy, R., Wallston, K. A., Elasy, T. A., Kaltenbach, L., Kotter, K., &
Speroff, T. (2011). Patient centered primary care is associated with patient hypertension
medication adherence. Journal of Behavioral Medicine 34, 244-253. Doi: 10.1007/s10865-
010-9304-6
Thorarinsdottir, K. & Kristjansson, K. (2014). Patients perspectives on person-centered
participation in healthcare: A framework analysis. Nursing Ethics 21(2), 129-147. Dio:
10.1177/0969733013490593