Final answer:
The three central features to Carl Rogers's client-centered therapy are unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and empathy. These foster a supportive environment and trusting relationship, essential for personal growth and effective problem solving.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carl Rogers, an influential American psychologist, developed client-centered therapy, which is a therapeutic technique that contrasts with psychoanalytic approaches. Client-centered therapy focuses on the patient's active participation in the healing process, with the therapist facilitating rather than directing the course of therapy. The three central features of this approach are:
- Unconditional positive regard: The therapist accepts the client for who they are, without judgment, which fosters a safe and supportive environment for personal growth.
- Genuineness: The therapist is authentic and transparent with the client, which helps in building a trusting therapeutic relationship.
- Empathy: The therapist fully tries to understand the client's perspective and feelings, which validates the client's experiences and promotes understanding and healing.
Rogers believed that these three features were crucial for enabling clients to deal with their problems effectively, contributing to better self-understanding and personal growth.