COURSE : CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY (PSY 472) – FUNDAMENTAL INTRODUCTION
CREDIT HOURS : 3 CREDITS
SEMESTER/SESSION : 1st SEMESTER, 2023/2024 SESSION
PREPARED BY : ZEQUEL MICHAEL
STUDENT ID : 998474209
ESSAY
HUMANISTIC THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION AND OTHER APPROACHES IN
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Humanistic Approach.Humanistic Theory Emphasizes uniqueness, worthiness and dignity, the
development of personal values and personal goals. Humanistic Therapy Addresses the whole person
(holistic), behavior and thoughts are not understood separately, focuses on the conditions for potential
or self-development that are appropriate to the environment. Existential Therapy Existing values to
create more valuable experiences. Phenomenological Therapy Understanding the current state of
consciousness, working based on introspective reports.
The Third Force. The humanistic approach is said to be the third force in psychology. Several
techniques are often used. Seeking is a technique of finding ways to release potential psychological
energy so that it can enter a new universe of life that is rich and rewarding. Sensitivity training
movement (Lewin) to help clients form interaction patterns with the environment. T-Groups or Training
Groups are techniques for teaching "normal" clients to be aware of what is being communicated,
feelings or thoughts, and to realize the potential that can be developed.
Maslow stated that humans are fundamentally positive and creative. Later, the hierarchy of
human needs added one more level. After self-actualization is transcendence or spiritual needs. When
potential is utilized, life is richer.
Client-Centered or Person-Centered Client-centered or person-centered (Rogers) is an
intervention approach technique that focuses on addressing present-day problems, helping clients
clarify their perceptions of themselves with minimal interpretation from the therapist, recording and
publishing verbatim for subsequent analysis of therapeutic interactions, extensive research, comparing
the client's perception of their actual self and ideal self, using the technique of reflection of feelings,
and the therapist acting as a mirror. Providing an overview of the client, delving into the emotions
expressed by the client, the client arrives at self-awareness and acceptance, the presence of
change/improvement.
Therapist's tasks : congruence or correspondence of the therapist's thoughts and behavior;
providing empathy or accurate perception of another person's feelings, and continuing to provide
unconditional positive regard.
The idea of Gestalt (Fritz Perls) is that psychological phenomena are an organized whole.
Therapy focus:
• Here and now
• Seeing and understanding what is happening now
• Encouraging responsibility for thoughts and behavior
Therapy goals:
• Understanding the structure of life story scripts
• When two people with different scripts meet and one of them may try to suppress or
please the other, it will lead to excessive involvement, and risk being involved in
quarrels or confusion.
• Producing growth, autonomy, and responsibility in oneself
• Principles of Gestalt therapy:Power is in the present
• The most important experience
• The therapist is an instrument
• Therapy is too good to be limited only to 'sick' clients
Gestalt therapeutic techniques:
• Variation of questions (What are you aware of right now?)
• Instructions (try this experiment and see if you become aware of it!)
• At the end of the session, the client is left in an unfinished state; absorbed in thought;
given assignments for the next session.
Transpersonal Psychology or the Fourth Force. Transpersonal psychology works with the
highest potentiality or mysticism, higher states such as during meditation, spiritual experiences. It
begins to emphasize belief in God or a concept similar to God. Knowledge is obtained from Revelation
and enlightenment. A way to gain higher consciousness is through meditation.
Principles and Characteristics of Humanistic Therapy
a) Humans have a natural tendency towards healthy emotional development.
b) Self-actualization is the tendency towards more complex and integrated levels of
development.
c) Self-determination means that humans are in control, selecting behaviors, and
constructing reality.
d) The relationship with the client is a central aspect.
e) The clinician must be genuine, and the client must perceive them as such.
f) Therapy identifies and reduces incongruence between experience and self-concept.
g) Unconditional positive regard, an accepting, non-judgmental, supportive, and
empathetic approach (the therapist needed).
Other Therapeutic Approaches. Another therapeutic approach is interpersonal therapy
(Sullivan). The idea behind this therapy is that the concept of self begins in infancy, developing as a
reflection of how important people in their life treat them. Close relationships produce positive or
negative images, and individuals develop lifelong patterns to protect themselves from severe anxiety.
The next approach is feminist therapy, which focuses on the strengths of women. Then there is
Vocational interest (John Holland) with the idea that work is not just about making money, but about
feeling competent and valuable. Housewives have different needs than marketing professionals and
psychologists.
Counseling is a therapeutic approach besides psychotherapy. A characteristic of counseling is
that the counselor directs the client. Examples of clients who need guidance are those with career
determination problems/need career guidance, deciding on issues related to conflicts with others. feeling
lost, etc. Counseling emphasizes normal development and growth, in which case Psychologists can help
facilitate development towards the desired direction.
Principles and characteristics of humanistic therapy: Humans have a natural tendency towards
healthy emotional development. Self-actualization is the tendency towards more complex and
integrated levels of development. Self-determination means that humans are in control, selecting
behaviors, and constructing reality. The relationship with the client is a central aspect. The clinician
must be genuine, and the client must perceive them as such. Therapy identifies and reduces
incongruence between experience and self-concept. Unconditional positive regard, an accepting, non-
judgmental, supportive, and empathetic approach (the therapist needed)."
