Humanistic Existential Theory

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The clinicians that use the approach of the humanistic-existential model believe that to function properly, humans, throughout their lives, have a need to develop perceptions and beliefs about oneself and to accept and value their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors regardless of the consequences (Comer, 2016, pg. 58). Humanists argue that people are born good and over the course of their lives, they seek to fulfill their potential known as self-actualization (Comer, 2016, pg. 58). Existentialists believe that human comes to this world with the ability and freedom to choose their destiny and give purpose to their lives (Comer, 2016, pg. 58). From both perspectives, practitioners consider abnormality to be rooted in childhood as a result of …show more content…

In consequence, humanists and existentialists argue that people who mostly receive judgment and criticism for their behaviors are more vulnerable to developing a psychological disorder because they fail to recognize their worth (Comer, 2016, pg. 110). Overall, the humanistic-existential treatment model objective is to change clients’ harsh self-standards as they gain self-awareness and self-acceptance by valuing and giving meaning to their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (Comer, 2016, pg. 110). The main types of therapy for this model are client-centered therapy, gestalt therapy, and existential therapy. In these type of treatments, practitioners avoid giving personal remarks and their opinions, because they allow the client to control the session by creating a supportive and warm atmosphere in which clients are able to accept their weaknesses as well as their strengths while critiquing themselves honestly in an attempt to find their own solutions (Comer, 2016, …show more content…

174). Shea and Jackson (2015) research goal was to elicit the Family Mosaic Project (FMP) youths’ thoughts and feelings of their experience with this type of intervention (pg. 175). The FMP is a program that refers troubled youth to the Occupational Therapy Training Program (OTTP) from clinicians that work in schools, in communities or in detention facilities who are practitioners of the client-centered occupation-based therapy (Shea, Jackson, 2015, pg.174). FMP focus on changing behaviors of youth between the ages of 11 and 18 who are socially disadvantaged, by providing services such as intensive case management (Shea, Jackson, 2015, pg. 174). OTTP is a community-based program within FMP, that offers social activities that are pleasurable and meaningful to occupy severely troubled kids who are at risk for foster care (Shea, Jackson, 2015, pg. 174). Furthermore, the sample consisted of five participants of the FMP program and the demographics were gender, age, ethnicity, level of education and length in OTTP (Shea, Jackson, 2015, pg. 175). Qualitative research method was used to gather and analyze the verbal data of the research design (Shea, Jackson, 2015, pg. 174). Five semi-structured interviews were

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