What is Humanistic Therapy? Theory, Perspective, and Approach of the Client-Centered Modality

What Is Humanistic Therapy?

Humanistic psychology is a positive, person-centered approach to therapy and mental illness. While other forms of therapy focus on problematic behavior and signs of mental illness, humanistic psychology tries to focus on the positive: the strengths of a client and how they can make positive changes for themselves. 

It does this by stressing three factors crucial to humanistic psychology:

• Free will: the ability of every individual to choose for themselves what they do and what their future looks like. 
• Self-efficacy: An individual’s belief and ability to succeed in the goals they set for themselves. 
• Self-actulization: The fulfillment of one’s full potential.

In humanistic psychology, the goal is not just to stop feeling bad and to fully expand into your positive potential. 

Humanistic psychology is a perspective within psychology and not a distinct type of therapy. It has, however, influenced by types of therapy, which we know call humanistic therapies. These include:

• Person-centered therapy: Also known as client-centered therapy, this is a common therapy modality that is likely used in most therapy offices. It teaches the therapist to use empathy and unconditional-positive regard.
• Existential therapy: Helps people bring meaning to their lives and accept responsibility for their actions. Teaches them that they have the power to make changes in their lives. 
• Gestalt therapy: Focuses on a person's present rather than their past. Places a lot of value on how clients perceive and makes meaning out of current experiences. 
• Narrative therapy: Frames hardships as part of your story and helps people see their strengths and values outside of the framework of their struggles. 

There are more types of humanistic psychology practices, but these are the most common ones. 

Who Developed Humanistic Therapy?

Humanistic psychology was developed in the 1950s in response to the heavy use of behaviorism and behavioral therapy thoughts. Behaviorism teaches that our physical actions will determine our future actions, and cognition or emotions have little to do with it. Humanistic psychology was an important part in creating the holistic therapy that most people practice today: recognizing the importance of our behavior, cognition, emotions, and past experiences. 

Carl Rogers is held to be one of the founders of humanism and one of the first to practice person-centered therapy. It was he who pioneered the use of unconditional positive regard and empathy in the therapy office. Abraham Maslow was also a great contributor, especially in the theory of self-actualization and the belief that humans need more than just their physical needs met. 

Strengths of Humanistic Psychology

Humanistic therapy has been proven effective. Strengths of it include: 

• Emphasizes human strength: Humanism aims to put the power back in your hands. As opposed to some fields of thought like behaviorism, humanism teaches that you have the power to change your future. This teaches good responsibility and action-orientated results.
• Greater intrinsic motivation: Instead of relying on outside motivators, humanistic theory teaches you to find your own motivation for change and act on that. This can be helpful in delivering long-term results. 
• Self-discovery: Humanism leaves a lot of room for self-discovery. Because humanistic theory believes that every individual has what it makes to self-actualize, the sessions are often client-led and therapist-supported. The goal of humanistic therapy is to empower the client to make change for themselves, so there is plenty of opportunity for self-discovery.

If humanistic therapy sounds like it is for you, talk to a therapist about if they offer humanistic approaches. 

Weaknesses of Humanistic Psychology

Although humanism has many strengths, it isn’t for everyone. Note these weaknesses before deciding to work with a humanist therapist:

• Lack of structure: Humanistic therapy relies heavily on the client to guide the therapy session. While this allows for a great deal of freedom and self-exploration, the lack of structure can be frustrating for some people. Some clients may benefit from a more guided form of therapy. 
• Subjective: As opposed to forms of therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy, humanistic psychology is not so easily measurable. Who’s to say when you are self-actualized? Because of this, it can be very subjective and it’s hard to track improvements. 
• Not the best option for psychiatric illnesses: Humanistic psychology steers away from overly pathologizing clients. However, in cases of psychiatric illnesses like Schizophrenia or Bipolar, some level of structured care is needed because there are real chemical imbalances and harmful symptoms happening. Humanistic therapies can absolutely be a part of the treatment plan, but it should be supplemented by other, more structured therapies and medications.

Many therapists use a combination of approaches, including humanism. Ask your therapist what modality they use.  

Theories and Techniques of Humanistic Psychology

Every therapist may use humanistic therapy a little differently. Some staples of humanistic technique include:

• Congruence: In humanistic therapy, congruence refers to the therapist's authenticity and transparency in their interactions with clients. It involves genuine self-expression and the ability to openly share thoughts, feelings, and experiences without pretense. By being congruent, therapists create a safe and trusting environment for clients to engage in open and honest communication, fostering a deeper connection and promoting growth.
• Empathetic Understanding: Empathetic understanding in humanistic therapy involves the therapist's ability to step into the client's shoes, genuinely comprehend their emotions, thoughts, and experiences, and communicate this understanding effectively. By showing empathy, therapists validate clients' feelings, help them feel heard and understood, and foster a supportive therapeutic relationship built on compassion and connection.
• Reflective Listening: Reflective listening is a technique used in humanistic therapy where the therapist listens attentively to the client's verbal and nonverbal communication and then reflects back the client's thoughts, feelings, and meanings in a non-judgmental and empathetic manner. This technique helps clients feel heard, clarifies their experiences, and encourages deeper self-reflection and insight.
• Unconditional Positive Regard: Unconditional positive regard is a foundational concept in humanistic therapy that emphasizes the therapist's acceptance and non-judgmental attitude toward the client. Therapists offer unconditional warmth, acceptance, and support, regardless of the client's thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. This unwavering acceptance creates a safe space for clients to explore their true selves, build self-esteem, and work towards personal growth and positive change.

Does humanistic psychology work?

Yes, humanism has been proven to be effective in treating many types of mental illnesses. In modern-day therapy, many therapists will use aspects of humanistic therapy–like empathy and unconditional positive regard—while applying more structured techniques like CBT or DBT. 

If you are interested in seeing a therapist who specializes in humanistic psychology, contact Lifebulb. We have humanistic therapists who are available and ready to see you. Contact our support team or browse our list of therapists near you. 

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