Person-Centered Psychotherapies

by Cain, David J.; Murphy, David

• ISBN13: 9781433843181
• ISBN10: 1433843188
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2026-05-19
• Publisher: American Psychological Association

Summary

This revised volume offers the latest in the theory, research, and practice of person-centered psychotherapies.

This new edition presents an updated overview of person-centered therapies, with an emphasis on theory, history, primary change mechanisms, empirical support, and contemporary developments. The authors walk readers through the development and evolution of the approach, and show how to conceptualize person-centered therapy from a variety of perspectives, each of which offers different value to the client.

Person-centered therapy, also called client-centered therapy, was created by Carl Rogers over 85 years ago, and this approach continues to evolve and influence the theory and practice of psychotherapy today. Rogers’ emphasis on the importance of therapeutic relationship has been incorporated into the beliefs and values of almost all contemporary therapeutic systems.

With updated research, implications for improving practice, and refinements in theory, this essential primer provides a rich, nuanced understanding of person-centered therapies and their continued impact on the field of psychotherapy.

Author Biography

David J. Cain, PhD, ABPP, is the editor of Humanistic Psychotherapies: Handbook of Research and Practice (2002) and Classics in the Person-Centered Approach (2002). A former colleague of Carl Rogers, he is the founder of the Association for the Development of the Person-Centered Approach and the founder and editor of the Person-Centered Review. He has been a member of the editorial boards for the Journal of Humanistic Psychology, The Humanistic Psychologist, and Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies. Dr. Cain is a past president of the Society for Humanistic Psychology and a diplomate and fellow with the American Board of Professional Psychology. He maintains a private practice in Carlsbad, CA.

David Murphy, PhD, is a chartered psychologist, full member of the Division of Counselling Psychology and associate fellow of the British Psychological Society, and member of the General Psychotherapy Council. He is professor of psychology and education at The University of Nottingham, England and is the director for the Centre for Research in Human Flourishing. His previous books include the Person-Centred Experiential Counselling for Depression Third Edition and the Person-Centred Experiential Counselling for Depression Second Edition, and Counselling Psychology: A Textbook for Study and Practice. Additionally, he has published over 90 articles and book chapters in the fields of counseling, psychotherapy, and education and served as editor of the journal Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies.

Table of Contents

Series Preface
Preface to the Second Edition 
How to Use This Book With APA Psychotherapy Videos
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. History and Origins
Chapter 3. Person-Centered Theory 
Chapter 4. Therapeutic Processes and Primary Change Mechanisms
Chapter 5. Evaluation of Effectiveness
Chapter 6. Critical Analyses, Reappraisal, and Suggestions for Future Developments
Chapter 7. Looking Forward: Rekindling Rogers' Pioneering Spirit
Glossary of Key Terms
Suggested Readings
References
About the Authors
About the Series Editor