Becoming a Person: a path to authenticity within the office

Rogerian authenticity inside and outside the office

Abstract

This article analyzes the Rogerian conception of therapeutic authenticity, emphasizing its ethical and existential nature in clinical practice. Based on the works On Becoming a Person and A Way of Being, the research highlights the importance of congruence—that is, the integration between the therapist’s inner experience, awareness, and expression—as a central element in creating a safe environment that fosters a genuine encounter between therapist and client. In this context, authenticity enables the reduction of the incongruence experienced by the client, allowing for the re-signification of personal narratives and access to the actualizing tendency inherent to the human being.

The study also engages with criticisms regarding the individualistic bias of the Person-Centered Approach, advocating for the integration of social and cultural dimensions into clinical practice. Furthermore, it is shown that an authentic stance in the consulting room contributes to the construction of a solid therapeutic alliance, a determining factor in positive treatment outcomes. Through a theoretical and practical analysis, the article proposes that authenticity transcends mere technique, constituting an ethical imperative that redefines mental health care and promotes the democratization of therapeutic processes. Thus, Rogers’ proposal emerges as a viable alternative for the training of therapists committed to self-knowledge, transparency, and the promotion of a truly humanized clinical practice.