Humanistic Theory and Therapies
Schneider and Krug (2015) report that therapeutic outcome studies are finding that the therapeutic environment, the relationship, and the personal styles of the therapist and client are essential features for all therapeutic modalities. These salient therapeutic features are parallel to the central qualities of humanistic therapy, including empathy, therapeutic alliance, enhancing and deepening emotions, the self of the therapist, and the therapeutic relationship (Angus, Watson, Elliot, Schneider, & Timulak, 2015). Moreover, research is demonstrating that it is not the theories and techniques that heal, but the human dimensions of therapy, like the relationship, which promote healing (Schneider & Krug, 2015). …show more content…
Frist, there is the shared view of determinism. Clients have the right to determine what is best for themselves. For example, Schneider and Krug (2015) highlight the following reflective questions: “is this the change that the person genuinely desires, or is this a change that is dictated by her peer group, culture, or employer, without essential reference to herself” (p. 1). A second common theme is the focus on the present. Humanistic therapies bring everything into the here and now, thus the helping the process unfolds in the present moment (Schneider & Krug, 2015). Through a careful attunement to clients, therapists reflect back aspects of the client’s experience that the client may not have noticed. For example, in the E-H therapy video, when Gina speaks about what it was like to be raised by her mother, Bugental (n.d.) redirects her to the present by stating “You’re the one who tries to be perfect.” Additionally, Bugental (n.d.) also focuses on highlighting Gina’s facial expressions as a way of helping her to be present with herself. Existential-humanists, like Bugental, believe that if the therapist can deeply attune to the client, it will help the client connect with what genuinely matters to him or her; thus, resulting in revitalizing his or her life (Schenider and Krug, 2015). Like E-H therapists, EFT therapists also strive to be fully in the moment with their clients, which encompasses a variety of levels including physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual, and relational (Greenberg,
Schneider and Krug (2015) report that therapeutic outcome studies are finding that the therapeutic environment, the relationship, and the personal styles of the therapist and client are essential features for all therapeutic modalities. These salient therapeutic features are parallel to the central qualities of humanistic therapy, including empathy, therapeutic alliance, enhancing and deepening emotions, the self of the therapist, and the therapeutic relationship (Angus, Watson, Elliot, Schneider, & Timulak, 2015). Moreover, research is demonstrating that it is not the theories and techniques that heal, but the human dimensions of therapy, like the relationship, which promote healing (Schneider & Krug, 2015). …show more content…
Frist, there is the shared view of determinism. Clients have the right to determine what is best for themselves. For example, Schneider and Krug (2015) highlight the following reflective questions: “is this the change that the person genuinely desires, or is this a change that is dictated by her peer group, culture, or employer, without essential reference to herself” (p. 1). A second common theme is the focus on the present. Humanistic therapies bring everything into the here and now, thus the helping the process unfolds in the present moment (Schneider & Krug, 2015). Through a careful attunement to clients, therapists reflect back aspects of the client’s experience that the client may not have noticed. For example, in the E-H therapy video, when Gina speaks about what it was like to be raised by her mother, Bugental (n.d.) redirects her to the present by stating “You’re the one who tries to be perfect.” Additionally, Bugental (n.d.) also focuses on highlighting Gina’s facial expressions as a way of helping her to be present with herself. Existential-humanists, like Bugental, believe that if the therapist can deeply attune to the client, it will help the client connect with what genuinely matters to him or her; thus, resulting in revitalizing his or her life (Schenider and Krug, 2015). Like E-H therapists, EFT therapists also strive to be fully in the moment with their clients, which encompasses a variety of levels including physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual, and relational (Greenberg,