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Originally Posted by nottrustin
At work yesterday some of my coworkers were discussing unconditional positive regards. For those who don't know I am an office coordinator in a psych hospital. This conversation made me think about this group. Essentially unconditional positive regard man's that therapist accepts the client add they are without judging them for their choices and behaviors. It doesn't mean the therapist agrees with what the client does but just puts those thoughts aside. They don't point out the beviors but asks questions of the client to hopefully help them to see where the behaviors are probably not the best.
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As someone else said, UPR is one of 6 conditions of therapeutic relationship in person centred theory, it doesn't stand on its own. Nor does it mean the T doesn't challenge or name harmful behaviours, it means that T has an attitude of acceptance of the person the client is. It's not a tool to be pulled out of a box any more than empathy is, the therapist is empathic and unconditionally valuing of the client or not.
For me it means my therapist supports me and is accepting, valuing and respectful of me. If she does challenge behaviours she thinks might be destructive it's always from a place of care, concern and honesty. A good person centred therapist/good person centred therapy is incredibly challenging and deep - work that is possible in a safe relationship. My experience is far from someone sitting there not challenging destructive behaviours or just being positive towards me.?
There's a whole theory of personality development that person centred therapy is underpinned by and UPR really makes sense in that context. Taken in isolation, not so much.