2026年4月托福机经套卷(第3套) - Read an Academic Passage Q5

Person-Centered Therapy: A Shift in Focus When American psychologist Carl Rogers first introduced person-centered therapy in the mid-twentieth century, the prevailing view was that therapists should be experts in diagnosis and treatment. Instead, in his new approach, Rogers centered the patient as an individual who is able to discover and take steps toward personal growth. Counseling was viewed as a collaborative interaction between the professional and the patient, with the latter playing a key role in effecting change. One of Rogers' core beliefs was that a nonjudgmental environment fosters self-discovery. The therapist acts as an empathetic facilitator, listening actively and using reflection—paraphrasing, summarizing, and clarifying the client's words—to elicit the client's feelings. Rogers claimed this approach allows individuals to gain the self-awareness and self-acceptance needed to grow personally and resolve issues. Rogers' research suggested that the most successful patients were those who experienced the highest degree of empathy in therapy. Unlike Rogers' model, earlier clinical approaches foregrounded issues and behaviors of concern, with the therapist diagnosing them and specifying treatment courses. Critics question the effectiveness of Rogers' approach for patients seeking expert guidance, especially those with severe mental-health challenges who need structured intervention. However, Rogers' theories remain influential: The person-centered paradigm is seen in various therapeutic approaches.