PCA – Person-Centered Association in Austria
International Association for the Promotion of the
Person-Centered Approach
in Science,
Therapy, Economy, Politics & Culture
INFORMATION IN ENGLISH 
© Peter F. Schmid pfs
1998-2001
I envision a place for experiencing and
absorbing all that exists of a person-centered nature,
and pushing this dream into hitherto undreamed directions ...
Carl R. Rogers
What is the PCA?
The Person-Centered Association in Austria
was founded in 1994 with the aim of promoting and developing the Person-Centered Approach
in theory and practice. It is a member of the NEAPCCP,
the European person-centred network.
The PCA intends to be a forum for personal encounter and scientific discussions.
What are the aims of the PCA?
The PCA considers its task to be the
promotion and realisation of person-centered concepts and activities. In the sense of the
Client-Centered/Person-Centered Psychotherapy and the
Person-Centered Approach of Carl R. Rogers, the PCA intends to support the
development of individual personality and the forming of personal relationships as well as
collective and socio-political changes.
What are the basic concepts of the PCA?
The PCA follows the holistic view of the person, considering body, soul and mind as inseparable forms of expression of human life.
In its work the PCA tries to contribute to
the humanising of all areas of life in the sense of practically applied Person-Centered
Psychology; collective development being regarded as just as important as personal
development. Here the PCA always considers persons as central, not organisations.
Person-centered fundamental attitudes are the basis for every kind of work: openness and
transparency, unconditional positive regard and acceptance, and an empathic attitude on
the interpersonal level as well as with socio-political processes.
The PCA considers its work as being process-oriented. This process is understood as a
quality that can be experienced with fun; because of this, it is efficient for the person
and the subject matter in the sense of Carl Rogers's "way of being".
The PCA is convinced that it is not the attempt to find one right way, but the discussion
of multiple concepts that leads to the desired result.
Which subjects are most important to the
PCA?
In principle all areas of human
cohabitation and development are of interest to person-centered work, in particular the
fields of therapy, psycho-social work, pedagogy, politics and media, economy, culture,
pastoral work and theology, philosophy, science and research.
Attention is paid to the variety of interpersonal forms of expression and consciousness.
The PCA also values art and artistic activity to a large degree.
Other important subjects are gender specific concepts as well as the promotion and
recognition of gender specific forms of the personal being.
How does the PCA work?
The PCA considers itself a facilitating
team, a study community in mutual promotion of solidarity and autonomy.
The associates intend primarily to learn, rather than to teach, and so they constitute a learning
institute.
A decentralised form of organisation, and the connection of ideas and initiatives as well
as interchange and discussion are considered to be essential.
The associates of the PCA consider their personal creative power and the potential of the
group as their most important tools. Scientific and personal discussion as well as
research serve to develop person-centered theory and theory guided practice.
With whom does the PCA cooperate?
The PCA seeks to realise its objectives and values in
What does the PCA actually do?
The PCA promotes projects of individual
associates. This includes personal and professional training in several areas,
research projects, art projects, publications, professional workshops etc.
Details of such projects are found in their publications. For more information mail to: a6213dai@awiuni11.edvz.univie.ac.at.
Such activities are marked with:
"project of the PCA". [For example see "Body
& Soul".]
The association itself organises
Apart from that, the PCA provides help to scientific studies in the person-centered field. It considers itself as a potential basis for projects which are carried out independently from the association, in cooperation with other person-centered associations or with other psychotherapy associations.
How to become affiliated with the PCA
To become an associate one has to be invited by the
community of associates.
One can become a patron by request in writing by means of an informal letter. Being a
patron is connected with the following advantages:
Apart from that the PCA seeks sponsors who support its goals ideologically and/or financially (by a sum defined by the sponsor and paid once or regularly).
PCA -
Person-Centered Association in Austria
Address: c/o Institut für Psychologie der Universität Wien
A-1010 Wien, Liebiggasse 5
Phone: +43 / 1 / 403 06 84
Fax: +43 / 1 / 403 06 84 / 4
E-Mail: a6213da@awiuni11.edvz.univie.ac.at
© Peter F. Schmid pfs
1998-2001
More about the PCA:
What is the PCA? (in
German) Associates
"Body&Soul"
"Begegnungen". The PCA book
Activities & international symposia
Political
declaration
3rd International Colloquium 2002
PCA Mainpage
World Association
European Network
Hauptseite Peter F. Schmid
English mainpage 
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