Existential Humanistic Psychotherapy

Existential Humanistic Psychotherapy celebrates the uniqueness of each of us as human beings. It acknowledges that as humans we are aware of ourselves and our world. It also acknowledges that we can change our existence by exploring in depth how we have formed our view of ourselves and the world. Then, we have the choice to keep the awarenesses that support our fuller living and let go of the ones that inhibit our fuller living.

Existential Humanistic Psychotherapy also involves the exploration of certain universal themes of existence that we all confront as human beings. These include ideas that we all grapple with such as:

• engaging in life while knowing we all die
• finding meaning when confronting emptiness
• needing to be in relationship and needing to be alone
• wanting freedom while having responsibility

Principles of Existential Humanistic Psychotherapy

1. Supports the exploration of what it means to exist, and what it means to be human.
2. Supports the sovereignty of each individual’s unique subjective experience.
3. Supports the intuitive and irrational so we can move into balance with the rational and methodical.
4. Supports the attitude of being open to include the full spectrum of feelings and thoughts of which human beings are capable.
5. Supports Maslow’s higher values of being human such as Truth, Beauty and Justice.
6. Supports the intersubjective and Buber’s I/Thou relationship.
7. Supports people to be more fully alive and vital.
8. Supports one’s capacity to actualize in their lives fully.
9. Supports the belief that human beings, if supported to be their authentic selves, will ultimately act in the best interests of themselves, of each other, of their community, and of the planet as a whole.

Therapeutic Approach »