‘The facts are friendly': research evidence indicates that person-centred therapy is effective

There is research evidence for the efficacy and efficiency of person-centred therapy. Although this has been there from the very start of the approach, the most relevant and persuasive of this evidence dates from the 1990s onwards. In his review of recently published outcome research studies Bozarth (1998: 172–173) found no evidence that specific treatments are effective for specific dysfunctions but that it is the quality of the relationship between therapist and client which is significant. Cooper et al. (2010b) provides a review of the research demonstrating that person-centred and experiential therapies ‘work’ including investigations of effectiveness, meta-analyses and the development of measures.