Fernando tells his therapist, "My whole world is a mess and nobody cares for me or is concerned about what happens to me." His therapist knows that Fernando has many friends who are concerned about him, but she tells him: "I understand why you might feel that way right now, and it must be difficult for you to deal with your feelings of abandonment." In this interaction, Fernando's therapist is displaying the quality that Carl Rogers referred to as:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The therapist is demonstrating empathy by acknowledging and understanding Fernando's feelings, without attempting to argue or invalidate them. Genuineness refers to the therapist's ability to be authentic and real in the therapeutic relationship, unconditional positive regard is the therapist's acceptance and support of the client without judgment or expectations, and insight refers to the therapist's ability to provide deeper understanding or new perspectives on the client's issues.

Fernando Tells His Therapist, "My Whole World Is a Mess