The most person-centered question we can ask may also be one of the simplest. For a long time, I thought I was doing the respectful thing. If someone had a disability, I would intentionally avoid mentioning it. In my mind, I was putting the person before the...

Sometimes the smallest words reveal the biggest assumptions. Before you answer the title of this article, stop for just a second. Whose life is it? It sounds like an obvious question. Of course it's theirs. The person receiving supports is the one living the life....

The first thing we say about someone often becomes the first thing others believe. Think about the last time someone introduced you. Maybe it was at work, church, a family gathering, or a meeting with someone new. How did they describe you? Hopefully it sounded...

When most people hear the word culture, they think of the big things — race, religion, or language.But culture is much more than that. It’s the quiet rhythm of how people live, connect, celebrate, and communicate. Culture isn’t just about where someone comes from —...

We talk a lot in Person-Centered Thinking about what’s important to and important for someone — but just as important is where all of that happens. Every person’s environment plays a major role in their behavior, comfort, and growth. It shapes how safe they feel, how...

When we talk about Person-Centered Practices, it’s easy to focus on the tools and strategies — the one-page descriptions, the discovery questions, the planning maps.But at its core, Person-Centered Thinking isn’t a checklist. It’s a promise — actually, three promises....

Imagine sitting down to watch TV with a friend. You say, “Let’s check out that new comedy special,” but before you can grab the remote, they say— “Nah, we’re watching a documentary about the history of concrete.” Now sure, it might be educational… but you didn’t...

Real change doesn't begin with a new policy. It begins with one person asking, "Could there be a better way?" If you've worked in human services for any length of time, you've probably heard this phrase before: "We've always done it this way." Maybe you've even said...

A meaningful life isn't built by choosing between what's important TO someone and what's important FOR them. It's built by honoring both. Have you ever cared deeply about someone and completely disagreed with a decision they were making? Maybe it was your teenager....

A person-centered series by Kurtis | VAC HCBS Coordinator & Certified PCT Trainer In August of 2024, I began what I thought would be a straightforward training process. But becoming a Person-Centered Thinking (PCT) trainer has been so much more than completing a...