fei75766_ch10_309-344.indd 313  02/06/20 12:29 PM
Chapter 10    Rogers: Person-Centered Theory 313
Wanting toexpand hisresearch andhisideas topsychiatry, Rogers accepted 
aposition attheUniversity ofWisconsin in1957. However, hewasfrustrated with
hisstayatWisconsin because hewasunable tounite theprofessions ofpsychiatry 
andpsychology andbecause hefeltthatsome members ofhisownresearch staffhad
engaged indishonest andunethical behavior (Milton, 2002).
Disappointed withhisjobatWisconsin, Rogers moved toCalifornia where he
joined theWestern Behavioral Sciences Institute (WBSI) andbecame increasingly 
interested inencounter groups.
Rogers resigned from WBSI when hefeltitwasbecoming lessdemocratic 
and,along withabout 75others from theinstitute, formed theCenter forStudies of
thePerson. Hecontinued towork withencounter groups butextended hisperson- 
centered methods toeducation (including thetraining ofphysicians) andtointerna -
tional politics. During thelastyears ofhislife,heledworkshops insuchcountries as
Hungary, Brazil, South Africa, andtheformer Soviet Union (Gendlin, 1988). Hedied
February 4,1987, following surgery forabroken hip.
Thepersonal lifeofCarlRogers wasmarked bychange andopenness toexperi -
ence. Asanadolescent, hewasextremely shy,hadnoclose friends, andwas“socially 
incompetent inanybutsuperficial contacts” (Rogers, 1973, p.4).Hedid,however, 
haveanactive fantasy life,which helaterbelieved would havebeen diagnosed as
“schizoid” (Rogers, 1980, p.30).Hisshyness andsocial ineptitude greatly restricted 
hisexperiences withwomen. When heoriginally entered theUniversity ofWisconsin, 
hehadonlyenough courage toaskoutayoung ladywhom hehadknown inelemen -
taryschool inOakPark—Helen Elliott. Helen andCarlweremarried in1924 and
hadtwochildren—David andNatalie. Despite hisearly problems withinterpersonal 
relationships, Rogers grew tobecome aleading proponent ofthenotion thattheinter-
personal relationship between twoindividuals isapowerful ingredient thatcultivates 
psychological growth within bothpersons. However, thetransition wasnoteasy. He
abandoned theformalized religion ofhisparents, gradually shaping ahumanistic/ 
existential philosophy thathehoped would bridge thegapbetween Eastern and
Western thought.
Oneofthetenets ofRogers’ theory ofcounseling istheneed tobetrueto
oneself, authentic andhonest. Inthisregard, Rogers practiced what hepreached in
thathewasopen andhonest about hisownpersonal problems inanoralhistory with
David Russell toward theendofhislife(Rogers &Russell, 2002). Hewascandid 
about theproblems heandhiswifeHelen hadintheirmarriage overitslast15years 
orso,hisneed tohaveother romantic relationships, andhisproblem withdrinking 
inhis70s.
Rogers received many honors during hislongprofessional life.Hewasthefirst
president oftheAmerican Association forApplied Psychology andhelped bring that
organization andtheAmerican Psychological Association (APA) backtogether. 
Heserved aspresident ofAPA fortheyear1946–1947 andserved asfirstpresi -
dentoftheAmerican Academy ofPsychotherapists. In1956, hewascowinner ofthe
firstDistinguished Scientific Contribution Award presented byAPA. Thisaward was
especially satisfying toRogers because ithighlighted hisskillasaresearcher, askillhe
learned wellasafarmboyinIllinois (O’Hara, 1995).Final PDF to printer