Learning Objectives
By the end of this lecture, students will be able to:
- Define humanistic therapies and explain their philosophical foundations, including the concepts of free will, self-actualization, and the “Third Force” in psychology.
- Describe the core assumptions of the humanistic approach, including holism, phenomenology, innate goodness, and the focus on the here and now.
- Identify and explain the three core conditions of therapeutic change proposed by Carl Rogers: empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence (authenticity).
- Differentiate between the major humanistic therapeutic modalities, including client-centered therapy, Gestalt therapy, existential therapy, logotherapy, and narrative therapy.
- Analyze the clinical effectiveness of humanistic therapies in treating psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and trauma, and compare their outcomes with other approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
