The late Carl Rogers, founder of the humanistic psychology movement, revolutionized psychotherapy with his concept of "client-centered therapy." His influence has spanned decades, but that influence has become so much a part of mainstream psychology that the ingenious nature of his work has almost been forgotten. A new introduction by Peter Kramer sheds light on the significance of Dr. Rogers's work today. New discoveries in the field of psychopharmacology, especially that of the antidepressant Prozac, have spawned a quick-fix drug revolution that has obscured the psychotherapeutic relationship. As the pendulum slowly swings back toward an appreciation of the therapeutic encounter, Dr. Rogers's "client-centered therapy" becomes particularly timely and important.

卡爾・R・羅傑斯(1902－1987)是美國著名心理學傢，人本心理學的創始人。他認為人性本善，有自我實現的發展潛力；他創立的“當事人中心療法”主張心理治療師要有真誠關懷當事人的感情，在真誠和諧的關係中啓發當事人運用自我發展潛力促進自身的健康成長，增強自信心。 羅傑斯的心理療法在當今歐美各國廣泛流行。他認為這一原理也適用於教師與學生、父母與子女以及一般的人與人之間的關係。自20世紀50年代以來，他的影響遍及全世界，而且至今魅力不減。