Carl Rogers' Person-Centred Approach: An Introduction



Overview

One of the transformational developments in the history of talking therapy, the person-centred approach (PCA) proposed by Carl Rogers, has become firmly established at the heart of modern counselling. It has profoundly impacted coaching, teaching and education, healthcare and medicine, mediation and conflict resolution, and even international reconciliation. It is even at the heart of sophisticated sales skills.

The first therapeutic method in the humanistic school marked a huge departure from the 'medical' mode of doctor-patient. The three 'core conditions' of empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence are frequently over-simplified, taken out of context, and mistaught. PCA is not simply a set of techniques – it is a fundamental philosophy about individuals and the world as a whole.

In this course, we explore the philosophy underlying PCA, Rogers' detailed analysis of what is necessary for it to work, and add a modern understanding of emotions and their communication.

Programme details

Course starts: 19 Jan 2026

Week 1: Introducing the three 'core' conditions.

Week 2: Carl Rogers and the revolutionary thinking that led to PCA.

Week 3: The concept of 'self' and congruence.

Week 4: The Humanists' Philosophy of Mind.

Week 5: The six 'necessary and sufficient' conditions.

Week 6: The study of interactions and the nature of 'empathy' (including 'Gloria' and other examples).

Week 7: Rogers' model of human development.

Week 8: Rogers' 19 propositions.

Week 9: Encounter Groups.

Week 10: PCA and World Work.

Digital Certification

Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS) Points

Only those who have registered for assessment and accreditation will be awarded CATS points for completing work to the required standard. Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail. Please follow this link for more information on Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS) points

Digital Certificate of Completion 

Students who are registered for assessment and accreditation and pass their final assignment will also be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Information on how to access the digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course attended. You will be able to download the certificate and share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Please note students who do not register for assessment and accreditation during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun.

Fees

Description Costs
Course fee (with no assessment) £450.00
Assessment and Accreditation fee £60.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Dr Graham Wilson

A leadership and OD consultancy/coaching career followed my behavioural science PhD. Since 2015, I’ve taught psychology, counselling, coaching, and photography at Oxford. Through teaching, writing (15+ textbooks), and conversations, I hope I help people understand these subjects' day-to-day relevance.

Course aims

  • To inspire an interest in one of the most profound shifts in therapeutic thinking in the 20th century.
  • To provide a summary of the context, significance, and key components of the person-centred approach.
  • To enable participants to appreciate the profound philosophical model underlying PCA and how it differs so radically from most other therapeutic traditions.
  • For students to appreciate the wider implications of the humanistic school, and PCA especially, for addressing large scale issues.

Teaching methods

Using a virtual learning environment (Canvas), background notes will be provided shortly before each session so that you can read up on the week's theme in advance if you wish. Sessions are interactive and dynamic - not limited to lectures. Classroom activities will be varied, and involve a range of discussions and creative tasks, in both the full group and small groups.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

  • appreciate the historical context in which the humanistic, and especially the person-centred, approaches evolved;
  • have a clear understanding of the theories of the mind and of human emotional development proposed by Rogers;
  • relate Rogers' approach to modern understanding of emotional communication;
  • consider the relevance of Rogerian theory to larger scale interventions;
  • have experimented with the use of the person-centred approach in counselling, teaching, and large-group problem solving.

Assessment methods

At the end of the course, participants will be encouraged to prepare a 1500 word assignment. There will also be the opportunity to submit a 500 word formative assignment during the course.

Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation will submit coursework.

Application

To be able to submit coursework and to earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £60 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment form for short courses | Oxford University Department for Continuing Education

Students who do not register for assessment and credit during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

 

Level and demands

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support