This document outlines the content and learning objectives of a session on Carl Rogers' core conditions for a therapeutic relationship. The session aims to introduce Rogers' concepts of empathy, congruence, unconditional positive regard, and conditions of worth. Participants will discuss the differences between empathy and sympathy, explore how they meet counseling criteria, and describe how the core conditions can enable therapeutic change by allowing clients' authentic selves to emerge. The session concludes by preparing participants for the final class next week.

1. The ‘Core Conditions’ Session Nine

2. Session Aims
Find evidence of meeting the CPCAB criteria in
your portfolios
Introduce the ideas of Carl Rogers and in particular
his ‘core conditions’ for a therapeutic relationship.

3. Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session you will be able to:
Demonstrate how you meet the CPCAB criteria
Explain what is meant by empathy, congruence and
unconditional positive regard
Define the phrase ‘conditions of worth’
Describe what Carl Rogers means by therapeutic
change.

4. Last Session
1. Learnt the difference between open and closed
questions
2. Demonstrated the use of creative questions using
the Change Model

5. Contents of this Session
 Extended ice-breaker – Family Rules
 Meeting the CPCAB criteria – small groups
 The ‘core conditions’- small groups
 Presentation on core conditions and conditions of
worth
 Worksheet – the difference between sympathy
and empathy
 Presentation on Conditions of Worth and
Therapeutic Change
 The final week
 A round

6. Ice-Breaker – Family Rules
 Working in pairs
 Take ten minutes to explore and list the overt
and covert rules that governed your family life as
you grew up
 From your list choose one or two that can be
shared with the whole group when we discuss
this topic

7. Portfolios and Criteria

8. Carl Rogers (1902 – 1987)
1. Humanistic Psychology
2. Self Actualising
Tendency
3. Conditions of Worth
4. Therapeutic Relationship
5. Therapeutic Change

9. Core Conditions Exercise 15
minutes
Form three groups:
 Empathy
 Congruence
 Unconditional Positive Regard (UPR)
 Discuss what your concept means
 Say why it is important within a therapeutic
relationship
 Say how you would demonstrate that quality in your
listening.
Record your findings on flip chart paper to present to
the whole group

10. Presentations

11. Empathy
To understand and share in the client’s experience
without judging.
To feel emotionally connected to the client and their
experience; to be fully present whilst they explore
and develop their own understanding
Prizing our uniqueness and our common humanity

12. Congruence
Being honest and straight with people
Being transparent
Being trust worthy

13. Unconditional Positive Regard
Acceptance
To respect, prize and value the client for who they
are - without conditions
Being non-judgemental

14. Any Thoughts?

15. Empathy and Sympathy
Take a few minutes, with a partner, to consider the
differences between these two approaches:
Empathy Sympathy

16. Feedback

17. Conditions of Worth
The conditions we must meet
as children in order to gain love
and affection from our parents
and carers.
Conditions of worth influence
our personality development.
We may end up living a life
determined by the values and
beliefs of others, a life that is
inhibited and closed off.

18. Therapeutic Change
If the client experiences a relationship marked by
the core conditions then he or she can be their
selves.
They can be congruent: their social self is softened
and their authentic self emerges.
Self-actualisation begins.

19. Final Session
Next week is the final session and you will be:
1. Ending
2. Handing in your Portfolio
3. Having fun
4. Giving positive affirmations
5. Giving feedback
6. Saying goodbye
7. Bringing food along is optional

20. Learning Outcomes
You are now able to:
1. Hand in your portfolio next week (well … nearly)
2. Explain what is meant by empathy, congruence and
unconditional positive regard
3. Identify conditions of worth
4. Describe what Rogers means by therapeutic change.

21. Well done Everybody!