Unconditional Positive Regard
Unconditional positive regard (UPR) is unconditional acceptance, love, or affection. The term is credited to the humanist psychologist Carl Rogers. It differs from unconditional love in that there need not be actual feelings of warmth and affection behind the attitude. Rather, unconditional positive regard requires that a person be warm and accepting even when another person has done something questionable. While most parents attempt to give their children unconditional love, few grant their children unconditional positive regard. Many therapists advocate giving their clients unconditional positive regard as part of the therapeutic process. UPR is most notably associated with person-centered therapy, or Rogerian therapy.
How Unconditional Positive Regard Works in Therapy
The demonstration of UPR from a therapist can encourage people to share their thoughts, feelings, and actions without fear of offending the therapist. A therapist might simply ask a client to expand on why he or she behaved in a particular manner, rather than condemning the person’s action or inquiring as to how the other person might have felt.
Some therapists believe that UPR can serve as a temporary substitute for parental love that may help clients gain confidence to explore their issues. This belief is heavily influenced by Sigmund Freud and is not popular among contemporary mental health professionals.
Drawbacks of Unconditional Positive Regard
UPR can be especially problematic in couples counseling, where couples often desire a referee who will tell them when they are doing something detrimental to the relationship. When clients feel that UPR in therapy is contrived, it may backfire. For example, some people want a therapist to tell them when they are doing something wrong, to bring awareness to the behavior.
UPR can be difficult for a therapist to sustain, particularly when a person is making negative or unhealthy choices on a recurring basis. Consequently, many therapists attempt to strike a balance by remaining positive, upbeat, and nonjudgmental while at the same time pointing out when a person’s actions are harmful to himself or herself or to others.
Reference:
- American Psychological Association. APA concise dictionary of psychology. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2009. Print.
Last Updated: 08-28-2015
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Violet
September 14th, 2016 at 7:10 PMUnderstood more on UPR. Thanks for sharing this material.
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Tracey C
March 14th, 2017 at 1:32 PMThis resource has really helped me in my counselling course I’m doing, thankyou
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Rohit
May 10th, 2017 at 6:19 PMwill appreciate if the importance of UPR is added.
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Michael
June 25th, 2017 at 2:51 AMI would have liked to see a couple of examples of UPR with the client and therapist
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Laura
June 25th, 2018 at 8:55 AMWhat if. While using UPR, A client becomes attatched, but then the therapist leaves the practice.. how does that contribute to the healing process, wouldn’t those type of actions regress the individual?
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Morgan
September 19th, 2020 at 7:32 AMThanks for sharing, it is clear
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samantha
June 2nd, 2022 at 5:59 AMlike to have seen an example
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sarah
June 12th, 2022 at 1:54 PMThis information has made me understand it better. Thank you.
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Carol
July 1st, 2022 at 11:25 AMThis information gave me real clarity.
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stephen
July 3rd, 2022 at 6:37 AMInteresting to see how it may be used negatively if you are inexperienced !
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philip
July 19th, 2022 at 6:20 PMUPR Counselling scenarios would be very helpful
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skye
July 24th, 2022 at 12:37 PMhelps you to understand that it is good to build up a relationship with your clients to help them to gain trust and know that you are there for them, also if you knew you were leaving you would try to make sure that you would introduce your clients to another theripist befor you left.
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jacques
September 23rd, 2022 at 8:12 AMI have learn some positive aspect of therapy that i wasn’t aware of i enjoyed it
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Julie
October 3rd, 2022 at 1:15 PMThank you so much for this am starting to understand UPR more which will help me in my course, I have a long way to go but this information will stand me in good-sted for the future
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Fila
October 8th, 2022 at 1:51 AMThis has given me a greater understanding of UPR allowing me to work on building my knowledge of client and therapist relationships.
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PAWEL
October 14th, 2022 at 12:30 PMIt gives me an information about how to connect with the client and and more skills to believe in him and his/her better feeling.
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Margaret
October 15th, 2022 at 11:32 AMThank you for explaining UPR. I have very limited knowledge of the skills required for counselling and this has been very helpful.
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simone
October 17th, 2022 at 7:33 AMI feel I have an understanding of upr now
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Newton
October 28th, 2022 at 10:30 AMVery Interesting understanding the both sides of the UPR.
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Debra
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:13 AMI found this information very interesting and informative
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February
November 6th, 2022 at 1:05 PMfound this peace really useful thank you very much
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rose
November 21st, 2022 at 7:43 PMimproved my understanding of UPR. thank you.
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Mandy
November 25th, 2022 at 3:21 PMThis has helped me to understand UPR a little more, thank you
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Val
November 28th, 2022 at 5:58 PMUnconditional Positive Regard is also present in various spiritual teachings dating back centuries and millenia. It has to become a way of life to be fully embraced also as a counsellor.
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Tabitha
November 29th, 2022 at 9:16 AMVery useful information
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Sarah
November 29th, 2022 at 2:02 PMThis makes prefect sense and interesting that Freud was heavily involved as he was a trail brazed in human reactions, it’s a shame too many professions get focused around some of his other theories rather than looking at the amount of knowledge, perception and behaviour he developed to supporting human behaviour, attitudes and understanding of others.
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Selina
December 19th, 2022 at 5:42 AMI found that this piece of writing really assisted me in understanding UPR
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gary
December 31st, 2022 at 7:53 AMinteresting and helpful information
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Narrisah
January 14th, 2023 at 5:12 AMThank you for this enlightment of UPR in my studies
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kinza
January 23rd, 2023 at 3:47 PMThank you for interesting information
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P Kumar
January 25th, 2023 at 3:41 AMThat’s a valid concern. And a manifestation of attachment is “transference” I think. That’s from the TV series Frasier. Some of my thoughts are as follows. Closing a session with a client in an orderly fashion and by making them aware of the prospect of discontinuation is the way to go – gives them a chance to brace themselves for the upcoming change. Also showing them a future and a way forward from that change can help alleviate the anxiety of the perceived detachment and any associated pain.
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Angela
February 14th, 2023 at 6:41 AMInteresting reading and information. Thank you.
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kirsty
February 21st, 2023 at 12:11 PMloved the explanation thankyou!
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Roya
March 2nd, 2023 at 4:57 AMWhat I understood applying UPR is depending on therapist common sense to where and when to apply this method or skill.
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Wilson
March 8th, 2023 at 1:25 PMunconditional positive regard depends on the therapist’s behavior and attitude toward the client is in a very friendly environment, not judgemental but welcoming with warmness and accepting the client no matter what they have done.
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Alison
March 10th, 2023 at 5:23 PMVery interesting
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Ashleigh-Nicole
March 20th, 2023 at 2:00 PMthis has given such an insight to things. thank you for sharing and helping us learn more x
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Timothy
April 3rd, 2023 at 10:43 AMyeh, found that UPR is an exellent way of determining a trustworthy relationship with your therapist. Thanks for heads up in this mind bogaling field.
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katie
April 5th, 2023 at 8:45 AMReally interesting to read about this, in a situation i am involved in currently this is 100% what is being used for someone.
It has helped me to understand why it is used, and how it may help.
Thanks. -
Thomas
April 8th, 2023 at 7:04 AMInteresting and very helpful to understand UPR better and how to be empathic and caring enough and accepting a client as they are so they develop trust and finding a personal balance to also tell a client of repeated harmful or negative actions.
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Amy
April 11th, 2023 at 7:46 AMReally interesting
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Lucy
April 12th, 2023 at 12:14 PMI found this insight into UPR extremely helpful- especially at this early stage in the course.
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Sally
April 13th, 2023 at 3:27 AMUseful information to assist with completing my assignment
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Mr Stephen
April 18th, 2023 at 4:57 AMOk very good to learn.and better understanding with knowing how to .progress when coming across different cases and behaviour .
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Miss S
April 24th, 2023 at 3:07 PMLearning to separate my own feelings and put UPR into practise will put me in a strong position
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Shaunna
May 3rd, 2023 at 1:13 PMThis piece has proved very helpful in my understanding of UPR and has been very useful in carry out my councelling skills coursework.
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Jacalyn
May 5th, 2023 at 2:34 PMGood clarification of UPR
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Justine
May 19th, 2023 at 8:36 AMVery interesting leaning about a subject that I was not to familiar With.
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Markham
May 23rd, 2023 at 8:18 AMgood insight of UPR… will help with the course
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Shareen
May 24th, 2023 at 1:51 PMthis has really helped me understand UPR quickly without getting confused
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Steph
May 24th, 2023 at 3:00 PMReally interesting and informative
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Courtney
May 27th, 2023 at 10:33 PMThanks for explaining ,great understanding
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Mary
May 31st, 2023 at 5:26 AMHaving read the piece on UPR I have reflected on the past sessions from my work with pupils.
Some examples would have also been helpful -
William
June 2nd, 2023 at 4:49 AMReally helpful
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Nicole
June 2nd, 2023 at 10:32 AMGreat insight into UPR, really helpful.
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