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One tenet of humanistic therapy is that people are good. The humanistic approach is concerned with a person’s ability to accept oneself. It likewise encourages a person to overcome self-criticism and self-defeating tendencies, as well as disapproval from others. This approach also emphasizes self-actualization and treating an individual as a whole person. A foundation of this therapy type: The patient is the expert in their life, and treatment often takes the individual’s lead.

Humanistic therapy is an evidence-based practice. Research has found that humanistic therapy can lead to significant improvement, and for some people it can be just as effective as other therapies, such as Cognitive behavioral therapy. The benefits of humanistic therapy are enduring.

The goal of humanistic therapy is to understand a person’s day-to-day experiences. While sessions can be short-term and last over a few months, therapy can sometimes continue beyond that and last up to a year or more. And because patients learn the theory behind humanistic therapy during treatment, they can also practice its tenets throughout life after therapy sessions have been completed.

According to research, many patients find success with humanistic therapy. Researchers note that the therapy is particularly useful in addressing poor self-esteem and self-sabotage, as well as improving conditions including anxiety and depression. Improvements in problem areas can be long standing, as individuals can continue working on themselves by using the tools they’ve learned during treatment.