Week 3 Discussion Board 715 EDCO
1. Compare and contrast the two therapies.
Person Centered Therapy, founded by Carl Rogers (1940s), focused on humanistic psychology,
emphasizing the actualizing of the client’s drive towards growth and fulfillment. Experiential
therapy was founded by Ludwig Binswanger, Medard Boss, Victor Frankl, Rollo May, James
Bugental, and Irvin Yalom, who expanded on Freud’s views on instinctual drives and motives
(Tan, 2011, 2022, p. 106). This diverse group of therapist all have different perspectives on
human nature depending on their own specific version of existentialism. Person-centered
therapy is non-directive, client-centered, and supportive. The focus is on creating the right
environment for clients to move toward growth naturally. Experiential Therapy is more active,
emotionfocused, and process-oriented, encouraging clients to confront and work through
experiences in vivid and immediate ways. (Rinda Haake, 2025) There are similarities between
the two theories, such as their core focus. Person-Centered focuses on growth through an
atmosphere of unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence. Experiential therapy is
also emotionfocused, using active engagement with emotions and experiences
2. What are some of their strengths and weaknesses?
In Person-centered therapy is on the relationship between the therapist and the client. The
therapist should have developed rapport with the client by building a collaborative relationship.
Allowing the client to feel safe and supported. Experiential Therapy's strength lies in its deep
emotional work and active engagement. According to Haake, Rinda (2025), therapists must be
cautious in overloading the client with the intensity of emotions being addressed; therefore, a
therapist must be skilled and trained in recognizing the client’s non-verbal discomfort so the
client does not experience re-traumatization of their experience.
3. Which therapy would lend itself to Biblical integration?
Person Centered Therapy (PCT) focuses on unconditional positive regard in relation to God’s
grace and love. Empathy and compassion are having a Christ-like attitude where Jesus modeled
empathy and compassion toward all people He ministered to. Hebrews 4:15, John 11:35.
Rogers speaks of congruence and authenticity, which represent the counselor being authentic
in their relationship with the client. The counselor is called to live truthfully in alignment with
Ephesians 4:25. Person-centered therapy's belief in human growth reflects the biblical view that
people are created with inherent worth as found in Genesis 1:27. The goal is for the client to
achieve selfactualization and wholeness. Experiential Therapy fits with scripture through
emotional honesty as described in the Book of Psalms and Lamentations. The Bible validates
the raw emotional expression, such as David’s laments in Psalms, and Jesus in the Garden of
Gethsemane. ( Matthew 26:36-39). Confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation are action-
oriented healing practices that are required and not only for self-reflection purposes. ( James
5:16).
4. What are some multicultural aspects to consider?
Person-centered therapy is relationship-focused, non-directive, universal, and respectful
towards the client. Experiential therapists are emotion-focused and stress self-awareness
through feelings and being authentic during sessions with the client, and understanding the
culture. Both approaches assume individual autonomy, self-actualization, and open emotional
expression. According to, (Romy Hume, 2022), “Person-centered and Experiential therapies
value align with
Western, individualistic cultures but may differ in collectivist or hierarchical contexts” (p. 13).
5. Lingering question for each of these therapies.
To what extent should emotional catharsis in experiential therapy be guided to prevent
overwhelming the client? Tan mentions counselors must be strongly aware of using this skill
to avoid the client being harmed during therapy.
Could experiential methods be used in spiritually integrative practices such as role-play of
biblical stories, guided prayer, and confession exercises? How does a counselor reconcile
Roger’s emphasis on self-actualization with the biblical call to be Christ actualized ( Romans
12:2)?
Replies
Good evening, Tifany, thank you for your insight into this week's discussion board
assignment. Your lingering questions caught my attention and prompted me to dig deeper
into the two therapies. You asked: “For person-centered therapy: How can clinicians
effectively measure therapeutic success in the absence of standardized assessment tools,
and how should the approach be adopted when clients from certain cultural backgrounds do
not embrace an individual-focused model of treatment?” Within our readings and according
to Kress, Victora E. (2010, 2012, 2014), “Carl Rogers emphasized subjective experience, so
measuring success isn’t about symptoms and checklists but about growth in the client’s
selfconcept, congruence, and autonomy” (p. 310-311). Clinicians are allowed to engage the
client in journaling, personal reflections, and using a Likert scale or scaling questions. The
second part of your first question asked: “How should the approach be adopted when
clients from certain cultural backgrounds do not embrace an individual-focused model of
treatment?” Many cultures value interdependence, such as family and community harmony
over self-expression or individual autonomy. Clinicians must be aware of their own
authenticity and any biases they may hold. Working with others from different cultures who
are not accustomed to Western culture can come across as disrespectful and intrusive.
According to Romy Hume (2022), the clinician's success in PCT can be measured through
client-defined progress, relationship quality, and narrative change, rather than relying on
standardized tools. For clients from a collectivist or relationally oriented culture, clinicians
should adapt by shifting the focus from purely individual self-actualization toward a
relational and community well-being.
Good afternoon Richard
Thank you for your insightful post; I was intrigued by your lingering questions and wanted to
answer them. You ask: “If PCT is about offering unconditional positive regard, how can a
therapist balance this with the biblical call to not compromise with sin but also to encourage
repentance?” According to Rinda Haake (2025), in person-centered therapy, unconditional
positive regard does not mean approving of every behavior. It means valuing the person as
worthy of dignity and respect, regardless of their actions. Therapists are to separate the
person from their actions and allow them the autonomy to choose their own direction and
feel as if they are in control of their destiny. The biblical perspective calls believers to love
people whole, not condoning sin. (Ephesians 4:15) According to Romy Hume (2022), we are
to speak the truth in love while finding acceptance for the person without accepting the sin.
As a Christian therapist, it is possible to integrate both unconditional positive regard and a
biblical perspective. An example would be to 1. Value the client as created in the image of
God (Genesis 1:27), which parallels UPR. 2. Differentiate the personhood from the behavior
by accepting the client without approving of the sin. 3. The therapist should encourage
growth and repentance through collaboration with the client. 4. The therapist should hold a
posture of humility by trusting the Holy Spirit to convict the client of their sin while the
therapist provides empathy, safety, and guidance.
References
Rinda Haake, G. E. (2025). How therapist operationalise Experiential components of Person-
Centered Experiential Therapy in the treatment of depression: Generating
Psychotherapeutic exemplars for traing practitioners. Counseling and Psychotherapy
Research, 10.
Romy Hume, P. C. (2022). Show me the real you: Enhanced Expression of Rogerian conditions
in therapeutic relationship building with Autistic Adults. Department of Critical Studies in
Education, 151-163.
Tan, S.-Y. (2011,2022). Counseling and Psychotherapy: A Christian Perspective. Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Baker Academic.
Victora E. Kress, L. S. (2012,2014,2010). Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy; Systems,
Strateigies, and Skills. New Jersey: Liberty of Congress Cataloging in Publishing.
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