Which counseling approach focuses on understanding students’ experiences and emotions?

Person-centered counseling is a therapeutic approach that places emphasis on understanding the individual's unique experiences and emotions. This method, developed by Carl Rogers, centers on the belief that individuals have the capacity for self-awareness and self-directed growth when provided with a supportive environment characterized by acceptance, empathy, and unconditional positive regard.

In this type of counseling, the counselor actively listens and seeks to understand the client's perspective, helping them explore their feelings and experiences without judgment. The goal is to facilitate personal development and self-discovery, enabling students to express their thoughts and emotions freely while gaining insights into their situations.

This approach stands in contrast to others, such as behavioral counseling, which primarily focuses on changing observable behaviors rather than exploring feelings or experiences. Cognitive-behavioral counseling emphasizes the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, often using techniques to modify dysfunctional thinking patterns. Transactional analysis examines social interactions and communication styles, but does not delve as deeply into individual emotional experiences as person-centered counseling does.