Unconditional positive regard is the love we get from other people for who we are as a person, warts and all. Most usually unconditional positive regard comes from our parents. If they, or others give us conditional positive regard this can lead to psychological ill health according to the humanistic approach.

According to Rogers, a crucial attitude for the client-centred therapist to adopt toward the client, who needs to feel complete acceptance as a person in order to evaluate the extent to which current behaviour contributes to self-actualization.

For Carl Rogers, the belief that one is accepted and loved without reservation; an essential component of psychotherapy.