What is a common characteristic of clients seeking therapy in PCT?

In Person-Centered Therapy (PCT), a common characteristic of clients seeking therapy is a deep-seated sense of incongruence. This incongruence often manifests as a discrepancy between a person's self-concept and their experiences or feelings. Clients may feel a lack of authenticity, disconnected from their true selves, or struggle with feelings of worthlessness and anxiety.

PCT aims to help individuals explore these feelings and thoughts in a safe and empathic environment, allowing them to achieve greater self-awareness and congruence between their self-perception and their actual experiences. This process is essential for personal growth and self-acceptance, which are key goals of therapy in this approach.

While having well-defined personal goals can be helpful in therapy, the primary characteristic that brings clients to PCT is often this sense of incongruence. Similarly, a strong support system and high self-esteem may contribute positively to an individual’s overall well-being, but they are not typical characteristics of clients seeking PCT, who are usually grappling with deeper issues of self-identity and self-worth.