Peter Schmid gave what felt like a historic lecture in La Jolla which can be found on his website www.pca-online.net or accessed through the BAPCA website which feels important in terms of the scholarly and clear way he approaches issues to do with the identity of person-centered therapy, setting it in a hugely broad and deep context. What I have particularly remembered from his paper are his three distinguishing characteristics of the person-centered approach: the client and therapist spring from a fundamental 'we', the client is the expert and the therapist is present. As a therapist it is my responsibility, my ability to respond, which is called for: my ability to be fully present in a person to person encounter. This gives me hope and liberates me.
Person to Person, BAPCA, October 2002
 

Peter Schmid presented a brilliant paper that I recommend to all of you. It is truly impressive and USEFUL. Peter gave it at one of the "free space" hours. He also gave an excellent 5 minute paper as one of 9 of us who were invited to do that to stimulate discussion on the topic of psychotherapy/counseling. I recommend that paper of his too. I am at the moment particularly referring to the hour long presentation he gave. The superb article is titled: " The Characteristics of a Person-Centered Approach to Therapy & Counseling: Criteria for Identity and Coherence." by Peter F. Schmid. Peter's presentation made my trip worthwhile the most. Peter's background is theology and philosophy and he puts that kind of scholarly perspective into his papers.

Barbara Temaner Brodley, Chicago, USA

It made my trip to La Jolla truly worthwhile.
Lee Field, USA

As always, I was intellectually stirred by your presentation. It makes such an important distinction, and will help people understand their philosophical positions much more clearly.
Gay Barfield

I really liked the power point presentation at Peter's website. I think it is a wonderful laying out of what to me is client-centered therapy. I was deeply moved by Peter's chapter in the Congruence book with his discussion of authenticity. To me, Peter was clearly saying "we", as in the therapist is a companion on the client's journey. I think he explicitly reverses the "I and Thou" statement to a "Thou and I" dichotomy, meaning, the client leads and the therapist follows. The word "we" heralds the value and belief we place in the central role of the relationship in our work. What struck me from this power point outline, and in my memory at the ICCCEP Chicago conference, was that Peter is speaking as a client-centered therapist who springs from an ethical point of departure, as do I, while accepting and subsuming the actualizing tendency within his personal therapeutic framework. About his use of the word "person", which in no way alters my preference for the term "client-centered" over "person-centered", I was totally moved by what was to me a profoundly religious and political use of the word in the quote he gives us at the end. The quote [by Carl Rogers] was "I have come to value the person above all". To me this was a deep expression of the idea, we do not diagnose, we do not harm, it is not "I before Thou"; it is "Thou before I". I deeply appreciated Peter's presentation at Chicago 2000, such that I felt a real fondness for him...
Kathy Moon, USA

It is speculation on my part, given Rogers ministerial background that he had ethical intents "flowing" through his prose; although, he seemed not to be a religionist in the formal sense. In this regard, although I am not versed enough in Peter Schmid's writings, I perceive Peter as moving in a useful attempt to explicate Rogers "hidden ethics".

Garry Prouty, USA
 

Let me appreciate you for the paper you presented in San Diego. What a truly fitting honor for Carl to be understood so well and to be so elegantly represented to the world. How  beautifully conceived and brilliantly written! To be continued ...
Carol Wolter-Gustafson, USA

May I get a copy of the theory paper you presented at the Rogers' symposium? I heard good things about it.
David Cain, USA

I want to personally thank you for for your generous contribution to the recent Carl Rogers Centennial Symposium in La Jolla. Thank you!
Maureen O'Hara, San Francisco, USA

I was so pleased you were at the Symposium. I hear that your presentation was remarkable. I intend to get the audio tape of it.
Natalie Rogers, USA

... your brilliant paper ... I remain emotionally excited by that paper. It is really something!
Barbara Temaner Brodley, Chicago, USA

  I wonder if you could send me an attachment of your presentation in La Jolla. Barbara and several others were very complimentary of it. I would like to read it. Glad you are so active.
Jerold Bozarth, USA

I wish I had met you at the Centennial. I was told that your presentation was outstanding.
Jerry Krakowski, USA

I just wanted to let you know that I found a number of wonderful papers on your website I really enjoyed (and that were helpful to me in writing). I especially enjoy the way you use the origin of words to deepen and clarify your meaning, including finding the discussion of "Kunde" very interesting. Thanks very much
Randall Ehrbar, October 2003

The new journal came today and I was delighted to see your article.  I ... appreciate it very much.
Barbara Temaner Brodley, Chicago, USA, November 2003

I have just attended the Carl Rogers' Centenary Symposium at La Jolla, and sadly missed your presentation. Can you tell me if it will be back on line soon? I am so sorry to have missed it.
Maureen Perrett, UK

I loved your paper - a really thrilling, and what felt like a historic, moment in the symposium for all present. I have been spreading the word. I hope it gets published soon.
Suzanne Keys, UK

... your masterful La Jolla paper ...
Paul Wilkins, UK

I have viewed your PowerPoint presentation from La Jolla and was very impressed with the potential it has as a resource to show the students on the counselling courses I teach. It conveys Person Centred theory and practice so well.  Is it possible to have a copy of the presentation on disc or CD to show my trainees? I am sure my students will
find it very interesting and helpful, and I can also show it to our counsellors here.

Caroline Kitcatt, Centre Director, The Norwich Centre, Norwich, UK

I was at your presentation in La Jolla and very moved by it.
Lee Field, UK

... a paper for which we have already received offprint requests [before it was published].
PCEP 2:2 (2003)

Conceptually I think this paper is excellent. It is the best argument I have read concerning the differences between "pure" person-centered therapy on the one hand and the experiential therapies on the other. It provides a profound theoretical grounding for person-centered therapy and theory. I want to have this published so I can reference it.
Review I

I found this an extremely relevant and important publication, and was very pleased to see that it opened up a dialogue with a previous paper in the journal [PCEP] – great to see that the journal is becoming a place for the development of key dialogue in the PCA world. The paper makes a number of very important points and will almost certainly be a key contribution to the debate around the nature and scope of person-centred therapy.
Review II

A coherent paper which advances the theoretical/philosophical basis to our work.
Review III

This places ‘the image of the human being as a person’ as the central position in defining ‘person-centeredness’ and subordinates all else. A strong and clear argument. Usefully contrasts this with Lietaer’s position. Also very usefully underscores the process of becoming an independent person, and one in relationship to others. Describes distinguishing characteristics of ‘person-centeredness’ and makes links with ethical stances in psychotherapy. Builds on and develops similar arguments published elsewhere.
Review IV

Congratulations on producing such a lucid paper in a second language.
Dave Mearns

I was very glad to hear your very impressive talk! Your phenomenologischen anthropologischen punkt is very important to clear Rogers' theory. It is very helpful to think about our confusing position.
Shoji  Murayama, Japan

It will be wonderful, if you can e-mail me your talk note and I can quote from it.
Makiko Mikuni, Japan

I really appreciate Peter Schmid's clearness of delineation toward other therapies and clearness of presentation of the non-directive attitude, when he talks about therapies, therapists, and clients ...
Lisbeth Sommerbeck, Denmark

I consider it to be a privilege to be in la Jolla and participate to the many high quality workshops, yours in particular.
Chantal Mannaert, Geneva, Switzerland, UNO

it was good to see your paper in the latest edition of PCEP.

Paul Wilkins, GB

I'm glad I was there for your presentation in California. It was super.
Barbara Temaner Brodley, Chicago, USA