ABSTRACT
The conditions for person-centred counselling include unconditional positive regard, empathy and congruence. Unconditional positive regard and empathy are particularly challenging in terms of definition and in application. The former has been related to ‘unconditional valuing’ and to ‘absolute respect’ (Purton in Thorne and Lambers 1998). Rogers (1951: 21) says of respect: ‘by use of client-centred techniques, a person can implement his respect for others only so far as that respect is an integral part of his personality make-up . . .’ Respect (or respectfulness) is not just demonstrated in action but is, it can be argued, a personal quality or virtue. But what does this respect mean in practice? What is it respect for? Can a counsellor respect too much or too little?
