Carl Rogers suggested therapy could be more optimistic, warmer, and simpler than what behavioral psychologists were doing. Roger's theory offered clients would receive better treatment if they focused on current thinking and understanding instead of an unintentional reason or interpretation done by someone else.

Rogers (1986), "It is that the individual has within himself or herself vast resources for self-understanding, for altering his or her self-concept, attitudes and self-directed behavior - and that these resources can be tapped if only a definable climate of facilitative psychological attitudes can be provided" (pg. 257-259).

After years of working with emotionally troubled people, Rogers believed people can heal themselves through self-concept. Self-concept defined by Rogers,...