Question

Mukesh was given therapy that encouraged him to seek personal growth and actualise his potential. Based on these principles, explain the therapy that is being applied here.

Answer 1

• The humanistic-existential therapies postulate that psychological distress arises from feelings of loneliness, alienation, and an inability to find meaning and genuine fulfilment in life.
• Human beings are motivated by the desire for personal growth and selfactualisation, and an innate need to grow emotionally.
• Healing occurs when the client is able to perceive the obstacles to selfactualisation in her/his life and is able to remove them. Self-actualisation requires free emotional expression.
• The therapy creates a permissive, non-judgmental and accepting atmosphere in which the client’s emotions can be freely expressed and the complexity, balance and integration could be achieved.
• Healing takes place by a process of understanding the unique personal experience of the client by herself/himself. The client initiates the process of self-growth through which healing takes place.