Humanistic Therapy: What is it, Uses, Types & Techniques

A Quick Guide

Humanistic therapy focuses on personal growth and self-actualization rather than focusing on what is wrong with a person. It emphasizes individual uniqueness and self-acceptance. Humanistic therapy helps individuals with various mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction. It utilizes approaches like Gestalt therapy, existential therapy, client-centered therapy, narrative therapy, and logotherapy, employing techniques such as empathy, congruence, unconditional positive regard, and reflective listening.

What is humanistic therapy?

Humanistic therapy focuses mainly on helping you reach your full potential rather than identifying what might be wrong with you. This approach works on the idea that every person is unique with their own capabilities. Since it stems from the perspective of humanistic psychology. 

The focus of humanistic psychology was Individual free choice, personal progress, and the concept of self-actualization. While early schools of thought focused mostly on abnormal human behavior, humanistic psychology placed a greater emphasis on assisting people in discovering and reaching their full potential.

How does it work?

An unhealthy environment can damage a person’s self-concept. Oftentimes, it can cause a disconnection between a person’s “ideal self” and actual self-concept. People experience existential anxiety when they comply with other people’s expectations rather than accepting themselves as they are.  Their progress is halted, and emotional issues arise as pleasing others and obtaining rewards take precedence over listening to their inner voice and shaping their own life. 

So humanistic therapy focuses on self-acceptance and your worldview. The way you see yourself and the world around you has a great impact on your behavior. 

There are other client-centered therapies also which was the idea given by Rogers to help patients understand their self-worth and start to work on themselves.

Who can benefit from it?

Humanistic Therapy has helped treat a number of mental health conditions which are listed as the following:

• Anxiety
• Panic disorder
• Low self-esteem 
• Depression
• Trauma
• PTSD
• Personality disorders
• Relationship problems
• Addiction such as substance abuse

Types of humanistic therapy

Its most commonly used types are as follows:

Gestalt Therapy

This approach focuses mainly on how you perceive your current life experiences. The concept behind it is that distress is caused by an underlying unresolved conflict with others be it, family members or romantic partners. 

Gestalt Therapy also tries to equip you with skills that allow you to better explore and understand your emotional state. 

Existential Therapy

This is more of a philosophical approach to treating mental health issues. It mainly focuses on how your existence colors your worldview. It also helps you to learn accountability for your actions. You realize the freedom of choice that you have that can make your life better. 

Client-centered Therapy

It is also known as person-centered therapy. It mainly focuses on accepting who you truly are. Oftentimes our view of self is colored because of tethers around us. So through this approach, the therapist provides a safe space for you to be yourself. It is a non-directive approach to therapy where you are an equal partner. 

Narrative therapy

This approach mainly focuses on helping you recognize your skills. It also emphasizes the personal story that you have created and carried throughout your life. It helps you see that you are more than just your problem.

Logotherapy

It mainly focuses on helping you find your purpose in this world. The idea behind it is that when you find your meaning in life, it can improve a lot of mental health conditions such as depression, grief, etc.

Some Techniques in Humanistic Therapy

Some of the most frequently used techniques in humanistic therapy are as follows:

Empathy

Your therapist will emphatically understand and validate the experiences you may feel seen, heard, and understood. 

Congruence

This is the most important step of humanistic therapy. It dictates the therapist be open and authentic with the client.

Unconditional Positive Regard

This involves the therapist completely accepting the individual as they are. Regardless of whether the therapist agrees with the belief or ideology of the client. They still accept them as they are and provide support.

Reflective listening

This technique focuses on actively listening to the client and then repeating back to them what they have just expressed to clear up any misunderstandings.

We hope you found this article useful in understanding the main idea behind humanistic therapy, its uses, types, and techniques.