Humanistic, Person-Centered Therapy in Santa Barbara
At the heart of my work is a belief that every person has an innate capacity for growth, healing, and change. Humanistic, Person-Centered Therapy is grounded in the understanding that people thrive when they feel safe, seen, and accepted just as they are.
I offer Humanistic, Person-Centered Therapy in Santa Barbara, helping clients reconnect with their authentic selves and cultivate deeper self-understanding, self-compassion, and purpose.
What Is Humanistic, Person-Centered Therapy?
Humanistic, Person-Centered Therapy was developed by psychologist Carl Rogers, who believed that meaningful healing happens not through diagnosis or direction, but through genuine human connection.
This approach assumes that you already have within you the wisdom and capacity to grow. The therapist’s role is not to “fix” you, but to create a space where that natural growth can unfold. In Person-Centered Therapy, healing arises from a relationship built on:
Empathy – deeply understanding your experience from your perspective
Unconditional positive regard – accepting you fully, without judgment or agenda
Congruence (authenticity) – being genuine and transparent in the therapeutic relationship
This relational foundation helps you explore who you are, what you feel, and what you want from life—without shame or fear of rejection.
A Humanistic Philosophy of Growth
The humanistic tradition in psychology sees each person as inherently valuable, capable, and oriented toward growth. Rather than focusing only on symptoms, it considers your whole self—mind, body, emotions, relationships, spirituality, and creativity.
Humanistic therapy encourages exploration of:
Meaning and purpose in life
Authenticity and self-expression
Values and beliefs that guide your choices
Connection and belonging in relationships
Self-acceptance and compassion for all parts of yourself
Where traditional therapy might ask, “What’s wrong?” humanistic therapy asks, “What’s getting in the way of your growth?”
How I Use Person-Centered Therapy in Practice
In my work, Person-Centered Therapy isn’t a technique—it’s a way of being with clients. It shapes the tone, pace, and feel of every session.
When you sit with me, you can expect a space that feels safe, warm, and nonjudgmental. I listen deeply—not just to your words, but to what might be underneath them. Rather than directing you, I invite exploration, reflection, and insight.
Our sessions may include:
Gentle inquiry to help you clarify feelings, patterns, and needs
Reflective dialogue that deepens self-understanding
Mindfulness and grounding exercises to connect body and mind
Creative exploration through imagery, metaphor, or Animal-Assisted Therapy (when appropriate)
You set the pace. My role is to meet you exactly where you are and support your process of becoming who you truly are.
The Therapeutic Relationship
In Person-Centered Therapy, the relationship itself is the therapy. Healing happens when you experience, often for the first time, what it feels like to be completely seen and accepted.
That kind of connection builds trust, self-worth, and inner safety. From there, you can begin to:
Let go of old patterns of self-criticism or shame
Explore emotions without fear of judgment
Reconnect with your needs, desires, and creativity
Develop greater authenticity in relationships
As Carl Rogers wrote, “When someone really hears you without passing judgment on you, without trying to take responsibility for you, without trying to mold you, it feels damn good.”
This simple, profound experience of being heard and accepted often becomes the foundation for lasting change.
Integrating Humanistic and Evidence-Based Approaches
While Person-Centered Therapy provides the foundation, I also integrate evidence-based and trauma-informed practices when helpful. This may include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to work with specific patterns of thought or behavior
Mindfulness-based techniques to help manage stress and increase awareness
Attachment-informed approaches to strengthen relational security
Animal-Assisted Therapy to foster emotional regulation and presence
This integrative approach allows therapy to remain both grounded in research and responsive to your individuality.
How Humanistic Therapy Helps
Humanistic, Person-Centered Therapy can be deeply healing for a wide range of challenges, including:
Anxiety and depression
Life transitions and identity exploration
Grief, loss, and change
Low self-esteem or self-criticism
Relationship and family challenges
Creative or existential blocks
Beyond symptom relief, this approach helps you rediscover what it means to feel fully alive—to experience joy, connection, and meaning on your own terms.
A Compassionate Space for Identity and Self-Discovery
Many of my clients come to therapy seeking to understand who they are outside of external expectations—those shaped by family, culture, faith, or society. In Humanistic, Person-Centered Therapy, we explore these layers gently and respectfully.
This approach can be especially supportive if you are:
Exploring sexual orientation or gender identity
Healing from shame, judgment, or rejection
Seeking to reconnect with spirituality in an affirming way
Learning to trust your own inner voice again
In this space, your identity is never pathologized or questioned—it is honored. My goal is to help you find self-acceptance, wholeness, and freedom to live authentically.
The Power of Presence
One of the hallmarks of Person-Centered Therapy is presence—the art of simply being with another human being. You won’t be analyzed, diagnosed, or directed; you’ll be met.
In this atmosphere of empathy and respect, people often find that what once felt tangled begins to unfold naturally. Healing, in this context, is less about fixing and more about becoming.
Through this process, clients often report:
Greater self-understanding and emotional awareness
Reduced anxiety and more calm in daily life
Improved relationships through clearer communication and boundaries
A deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment