ABSTRACT
Criticism of person-centred therapy usually comes from an ignorance of theory and the way it is implemented. For example, there appears to be a belief that being `person-centred' involves little more than being `nice' to people, lending a sympathetic ear but to little effect. It is quite common to hear therapists of other orientations say that while attentive, accepting listening might be helpful in the initial stages of a therapeutic relationship (if indeed it is helpful at all) the serious work happens when expert knowledge and technique are brought into play. In other words while there is (sometimes grudging) acceptance that the six conditions are necessary they are not deemed to be suf®cient.
