The rise of humanistic psychology led many psychologists to question the approach to traditional psychotherapy. In the 1960s, Carl Rogers questioned the fundamental concepts underlying traditional clinical psychology. He suggested that therapy should be centered on the patient rather than the disorder. The path to mental health, in Rogers’ view, is for the affected person to find his or her own ‘good life’. They should avoid trying to conform to an expected ideal self or the life they should live. A good life is not the end result of a course of therapy, but rather a continuing process of change.
In order to achieve this, Rogers explained that we need to live in each moment and not dwell on the past or worry about the future. If we can accept life as it is, we’ll be able to see all kinds of possibilities. People are basically kind and healthy, so we should view them with an attitude of “positive regard” instead of judgment. We should also trust our own instincts and decisions rather than rely on someone else’s opinion to make positive choices.
