Today, the word 'client' is specifically endorsed by the Psychotherapy Association of Australia (pacfa-org-au, accessed 18.03.15), and the word is commonly used in many counselling and psychotherapy texts such as David Geldard's, Guide to Basic Personal Counselling (2012) and Helen Cameron's, The Counselling Interview (2010). Therefore the distinction between 'patient' and 'client' helped to change the dynamic of the therapeutic relationship and it became one of equal partners rather then a doctor treating a patient. .
Through extensive research projects based on the hypothesis that 'the client has within himself the capacity, latent if not evident, to understand those aspects of his life and of himself which are causing him pain, and the capacity and the tendency to reorganize himself and his relationship to life in the direction of self-actualization and maturity in such a way as to bring a greater degree of internal comfort" (Rogers, 1950, p. 443) Rogers, developed a new client centred approach, which he called 'Non-Directive Therapy'. He explained that the therapists' role was 'to create such a psychological atmosphere as will permit this capacity and this strength to become effective rather than latent or potential' (Rogers, 1950, p. 443). .
This new approach to psychotherapy was highly controversial; it represented a dramatic shift from the dominant theories of the time. James Goodwin (2008) writes in his book, A History of Modern Psychology that, Rogers and others 'humanistic Psychology distinguished itself by contrasting with psychologies other two forces, psychoanalysis and behaviourism'. (Goodwin, P439, 2008). Sigmund Freud's view, 'the father or psychoanalysis', was centred on the unconscious, he believed that only psychoanalysts with specific training could interpret the hidden subconscious thoughts of individuals. (Kahn 1998) Whereas Behaviourists such as B.