The Effects Unconditional Positive Regard on Psychotherapy Outcome

The purpose of this study was to measure the relationship between therapist unconditional positive regard and psychotherapeutic outcome. Research in the last 30 years generally supports the effectiveness of Carl Rogers' core conditions within the therapeutic relationship. Out of Rogers' core conditions (empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard) numerous writers and person centered approach practitioners consider unconditional positive regard (UPR) as the curative factor in person centered psychotherapy. Unconditional positive regard is an attitude of unconditional acceptance. Rogers' believed that when the therapist is able to convey to his or her client a genuine caring for him or her as a whole person with human potential, a deep caring that places no conditions of interpretation or judging of his or her feelings, thoughts, or even behaviors on his or her unconditional acceptance, the therapist is expressing unconditional positive regard (Rogers & Truax, 1967). Levels of perceived therapist unconditional positive regard were hypothesized to be positively correlated to improvements in client's overall global functioning, which includes the dimensions; subjective well-being, life/social functioning, symptoms/problems, and risk to self and others. In order to test this hypothesis, 31 participants, who were comprised of students who attended a two year community college located in western United States and sought therapy at the college counseling center, were administered The Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) and the Barlett-Lenard Relationship Inventory (RI) in order to assist the measurement of therapeutic outcome and levels of congruence, empathy, and unconditional positive regard. The present study indicated that levels of positive regard, congruence, and empathy were positively correlated to improvements to participants' life/social functioning and symptom reduction of the CORE-OM.