Born out of a rebellion against putting people and situations in boxes, the humanistic approach illuminates the unique qualities of each individual. It rejects notions associated with psychodynamic therapy, behaviorism, and the medical model. It assumes that a person’s life is not defined or motivated by stimulus-response behaviors, unconditional forces, or illnesses.
When Carol Rogers developed the theory and practice, he was clear about the foundational assumptions which are
People have free will
People are basically good, and have an innate need to make themselves and the world better
People are motivated to grow psychologically
How a person experiences life (how they perceive it) is paramount.
Emphasizes on the study of each individual case rather than the average performance of groups.
The humanistic therapist focuses on helping people free themselves from disabling assumptions and attitudes so they can live fuller lives. The therapist emphasizes growth and self-actualization rather than curing diseases or alleviating disorders. This perspective targets present conscious processes rather than unconscious processes and past causes, but like the existential approach, it holds that people have an inherent capacity for responsible self-direction. For the humanistic therapist, not being one’s true self is the source of problems. The therapeutic relationship serves as a vehicle or context in which the process of psychological growth is fostered. The humanistic therapist tries to create a therapeutic relationship that is warm and accepting and that trusts that the client’s inner drive is to actualize in a healthy direction.
Article:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4349967/
Book:
Definition Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UcjojHetfE
Example Video