Person-Centered Therapy: A Philosophy to Support Early Childhood Education

Person-centered therapy (PCT) comes from the experiential and relationship-oriented therapy tradition. It is considered to be a third force in therapeutic engagement, along with the psychoanalytic and behavioral approaches. PCT is based on faith in and empowerment of human beings to be joyful, creative, self-fulfilled and willing and able to connect with others, both socially and emotionally. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to explore the potential union of PCT with early childhood education. The author will first describe the PCT model along with how its aspects can be used to help early childhood educators mentor young children. The author will conclude the paper with a summary of the implications for therapeutic practice in the classroom.