Carl Rogers, one of the founders of Humanistic Psychology, pioneered what came to be called "client-centered" therapy. The point was to forge a supportive therapeutic alliance between psychotherapist and the individual seeking help. Rogers went out of his way to be non-directive and non-judgmental, often merely echoing or mirroring what the client was struggling to express. Here is a typical session, taken directly from Dr. Rogers' case files, to which EGR has recently gained exclusive access.

The date of this initial intake interview is 1981. Client is 30 years old. A rock and roll drummer with plans to launch a solo career, he has just put out his first album as the band's lead singer. Philip has a long history of schizophrenia accompanied by auditory and visual hallucinations, and paranoid delusions of persecution. He is not considered dangerous, in spite of becoming very loud and insistent when he believes he is not being listened to or properly understood.

Dr. Rogers: Hello, Philip. What are you feeling this evening?
Philip: I can feel it coming in the air tonight...
Dr. Rogers: You say you can feel it coming.
Philip: Oh Lord.
Dr. Rogers: And you are calling on God to help you.
Philip: I've been waiting for this moment, all my life...
Dr. Rogers: Yes, I can see that.
Philip: Oh Lord.
Dr. Rogers: This has been coming for quite some time, and you're understandably upset.
Philip: Can you feel it coming in the air tonight?
Dr. Rogers: Well, I can certainly empathize with the issues you are facing at the moment, yes.
Philip: Oh Lord, Oh Lord!
Dr. Rogers: Let's stay with what it is you see coming, and why this makes you so anxious.
Philip: Well, if you told me you were drowning...
Dr. Rogers: Yes?
Philip: I would not lend a hand.
Dr. Rogers: Now, I wonder why you would feel that way.
Philip: I've seen your face before my friend...
Dr. Rogers: Yes, it's quite possible we passed on the street at some time in the past.
Philip: But I don't know if you know who I am.
Dr. Rogers: Many of my clients express just such misgivings at the outset.
Philip: Well, I was there and I saw what you did.
Dr. Rogers: You believe you saw me doing something.
Philip: I saw it with my own two eyes.
Dr. Rogers: I see. And what was it that you believe you witnessed? [smiles understandingly]
Philip: So you can wipe off the grin, I know where you've been
Dr. Rogers: I'm right here with you now, Phil.
Philip: It's all been a pack of lies
Dr. Rogers: You feel that people have been untruthful with you. Can you recall when you first began to feel this way?
Philip: Well I remember...
Dr. Rogers: Yes, go on...
Philip: I remember, don't worry...
Dr. Rogers: No, I'm not worried. I think we're making excellent progress here.
Philip: How could I ever forget?
Dr. Rogers: Yes, that's certainly the way it is with these things.
Philip: It's the first time...
Dr. Rogers: You say this is the first time, yes. There's a first time for everything, isn't there.
Philip: ...the last time we ever met.
Dr. Rogers: Oh, I understand. You're referring to when you think you saw me doing something that time we must have encountered each other on the street.
Philip: But I know the reason why you keep your silence up.
Dr. Rogers: You believe that I'm being less communicative with you than you'd like, and you think you understand the reason for this.
Philip: No you don't fool me!
Dr. Rogers: You think I'm attempting to lie to you like all those others. But you are resisting, not letting yourself become confused.
Philip: The hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows.
Dr. Rogers: Yes, you are experiencing a lot of anxiety, and you're saying most people don't see that.
Philip: It's no stranger to you or me
Dr. Rogers: How true. You can say that again.
Philip: And I can feel it coming in the air tonight...
Dr. Rogers: [looking at watch] Well, Phil, it looks as if that's all we have time for this evening.
Philip: Oh Lord! Oh Lord! [client becomes agitated, distraught, begins screaming and banging on interview table.]
Dr. Rogers: [running out into hall] Nurse! 500 milligrams of chlorpromazine, iv. Stat!