Unconditional Positive Regard (prominent through Carl Rogers) is a well known term for those that study Psychology; however, knowing a term and expressing the ideal of the term are two different categories. A therapist should always seek to understand every client from their perspective without putting undue burden on the individual for who or what they are or supposedly represent. With that said, therapists must learn to become comfortable with clients from every ethnic background, gender, disability status, gender identity, and so forth. Being able to work with a client does not mean that you agree with every faction of their lifestyle, but it does mean that you care enough to lend a helping hand to a fellow human being in need. Keep in mind as you move along the ladder in your career that you will encounter not only clients from various backgrounds but also colleagues. If you are a person that is not tolerant of anyone except those who act and think like you, then you will have a challenge working with clients. It is factual that contemporary therapists must have multicultural awareness and sensitivity. Thus, counselors should assume the best about a client and not the worst. We should strive to give our clients the benefit of the doubt. My challenge to you today is to break off the shackles of assumption, bias, and misunderstanding in order to see a world that is beckoning for a sensitive, caring, and open-minded helping professional. It is perfectly fine to not necessarily agree with your client's lifestyle but to respect them as a person. Being 100% in agreement is not a prerequisite to counseling individuals. For those who are not yet counseling clients, remember these values in your future career pursuits. I wish you all the best in your professional endeavors!
Here is a video on Unconditional Positive Regard. It is in the context of learning, but it demonstrates the concept well. **These videos are only used for demonstrating the concept of unconditional positive regard. This site does not seek to endorse these institutions or their religious beliefs, personalized curriculum, or academic practices. Not all content in the video reflects the viewpoints of this site's contributor.
