I was required to develop a non-directive attitude, and skill in the non-judgmental understanding of my clients, to walk in my clients shoes, to be in their frame of reference and to feel and experience their situation. The process of this understanding is known as empathy and it is important, to enhance a quality shared experience.

Congruence describes a state of genuineness, the term for authenticity. This authenticity, in practice, is my transparency of my real-self, involving learning to listen to and be aware of my own feelings and when and how to communicate these to my clients without distortion.

As a person-centred counsellor there is a third core condition which is termed unconditional positive regard (UPR). Rather than a learned skill, this is an attitude which is naturally rooted in me. In practice, UPR is a feeling or mind-set whereby I accept and respect my clients without judgement, consistently. A client who feels valued only when they behave as others would like them to feels bound and exhausted. In a climate of UPR, I hope for my clients to experience an attitude where they can believe in their efforts without feeling threatened and self-protective, but feeling encouraged to share freely and without fear.