Rollo May's Existential Psychodynamic Approach

Counseling and therapy

The main focus of humanistic therapy is to assist the patient in development of a stronger and healthier sense of self or in other words help him in achieving highest level of self-actualization.

EarlierApproaches

 Abraham Maslow’s Developmental Theory : highlights the importance of hierarchy of needs and motivations in development

 Rollo May’s Existential Psychology: acknowledges human freewill and allows the patient to explore themselves and the meaning of life

 Carl Roger’s Person-Centered Therapy (PCT): Lets the patient direct and understand his or her own development while ensuring an air of acceptance and approval from the therapist.

 Gestalt therapy: Focuses on the present and takes it as an opportunity for a fresh start. Role playing and non-verbal indicators are an integral part of Gestalt

Empathy

Empathy is an idea that allows the therapist to see and understand the world through the client’s view. The non-existence of this concept in humanistic therapy puts an end to its true purpose. Unconditional positive regard which refers to the concern that the psychotherapist is required to have for the client, is a key element in therapy that ensures the therapist-client relationship to not be one-sided.

Marshall Rosenberg also had the same view about importance of empathy in his concept of Nonviolent Communication.

The ideal self

An incongruence between the ideal and real self gives rise to developmental problems.Such, can be understood and solved through humanistic therapy, which allows the patient to add positivity to their real self-concept i.e. both concepts of self are made congruent.

Carl Rogers believed that the success in congruency leads to development of a real relationship in