Humanistic psychotherapy covers a variety of talking therapies that reflect the theories and values of humanistic psychology. The core features of the humanistic approach are:
- Its focus on subjective experience
- The belief that each person is unique
- Views the person as a whole – body, mind and soul
- Is optimistic about human nature and a person’s potential to grow
- Emphasises personal choice and responsibility
Therapists who follow a humanistic approach come from a variety of training backgrounds. Sometimes they specialise in one particular kind of therapy, for instance Gestalt Therapy, or Person-centred Therapy. Or they may integrate different therapeutic approaches from within the humanistic tradition