Session 4: Congruence
Thinking About Icebergs or Pyramids
Why icebergs or pyramids? Because much of our exploration of the notion of congruence concerns our awareness of our own processes rather than outward, explicit expression of or about ourselves. Congruence is a part of Rogers theory that continues to cause most confusion and mis-understandings. This session will attempt to minimise the confusion and mis-understandings and, at the same time explore the problems with the concept itself.
Learning Objective Participants Can Expect From This Event
- A deeper understanding of the notion of congruence in Rogers' theorising.
- To be able to think about an alternative description of congruence.
- To reflect on the 'role' of congruence in the therapeutic relationship.
Who is This Workshop Appropriate For?
- For those people training , or interested in, the person-centred approach, from early career therapists to those of us a bit longer in the tooth.
How May This Workshop Impact Your Practice?
- Having a deeper and/or clearer understanding of love/UPR may help participants in to 'meet' Rogers 3rd condition of the necessary conditions for the/a therapeutic process.
Person‑Centred Theory & Practice: 12‑Month Masterclass Series
Join us for a purposeful, year‑long exploration of the ideas that animate Carl Rogers’ person‑centred approach. Across eight live, highly interactive workshops—spaced monthly from June 2025 to January 2026—renowned trainer Sheila Haugh will guide you from foundational principles to leading‑edge debates. The programme blends concise theory input, reflective dialogue and live skills practice, supporting you to work with the confidence that “the client knows best.”
Together we will explore…
- Why Trust the Client? Formative, Actualising & Self‑Actualising Tendencies
- Empathy: Heartfelt Listening
- Positive Regard: Is Love the Curative Element?
- A Pyramid or an Iceberg? Authenticity & Congruence
- Psychological Contact: Are We in this Together?
- Client Perception: Essential Person‑centred Communication Skills
- Relational Depth: An Emergent Dynamic?
- Configurations of Self: Exploring Our Plural “Me‑s” in Practice
Secure your place and invest in a year of focused professional growth—building a richer, more responsive person‑centred practice one month at a time.
Course Content
Presenter
Sheila is person-centred therapist, facilitator and consultant/supervisor. Until very recently, she was the Director of Studies Course Leader for the MSc Contemporary Person-Centred Psychotherapy and Applications at the Metanoia Institute in London. She is a former convenor of the BAPCA, and former member of the board of the WAPCECP. She works in the UK and in the Czechia where she has lived for the last 14 years. She was a member of the UKCP Training and Universities College and was involved in the process of getting the titles ‘person-centred psychotherapist’ and ‘client-centred psychotherapist’ registered in the UKCP. She is co-editor of two books and author of a number of chapters, the most recent being Bozarth, J. D., & Haugh, S. (2024). Unconditional Positive Regard. In M. Cooper, G. di Malta, M. M. O’Hara, Y. Gololob, & S. Stephen (Eds.), The Handbook of person-centred Psychotherapy and Counselling (3rd edition, pp. 200–211). Bloomsbury Academic.
