A psychotherapist's clinical dealings with personal counseling and interpersonal relationships, from a context of personal experience and learning, is reviewed in a collection of papers designed for professionals in many disciplines. Understanding of person-centered concepts such as self-actualization, individual growth, and personal goals, may lead to lessening of tensions in human relations. The therapeutic relationship facilitates the process of growth and change in a client. Characteristics of helping relationships are described. The therapist expresses his view of how a fully functioning person behaves. Research in client-centered psychotherapy is discussed. Psychotherapy has potential implications for education, interpersonal communication, family life, and personal creativity. Behavioral sciences should play a constructive role in personal development.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

pt. 1: Speaking personally. "This is me" -- pt. 2: How can I be of help?. Some hypotheses regarding the facilitation of personal growth ; The characteristics of a helping relationship ; What we know about psychotherapy, objectively and subjectively -- pt. 3: The process of becoming a person. Some of the directions evident in therapy ; What it means to become a person ; A process conception of psychotherapy -- pt. 4: A philosophy of persons. "To be that self which one truly is" : a therapist's view of personal goals ; A therapist's view of the good life : the fully functioning person -- pt. 5: Getting at the facts : the place of research in psychotherapy. Persons or science? : a philosophical question ; Personality change in psychotherapy ; Client-centered therapy in its context of research -- pt. 6: What are the implications for living?. Personal thoughts on teaching and learning ; Significant learning : in therapy and in education ; Student-centered teaching as experienced by a participant ; The implications of client-centered therapy for family life ; Dealing with breakdowns in communication, interpersonal and intergroup ; A tentative formulation of a general law of interpersonal relationships ; Toward a theory of creativity -- pt. 7: The behavioral sciences and the person. The growing power of the behavioral sciences ; The place of the individual in the new world of the behavioral sciences -- Appendix. A chronological bibliography of the publications of Carl R. Rogers, 1930-1960.