Humanistic Psychotherapy

Humanistic psychotherapy, to me, is first and foremost a therapist’s philosophical stance. The client and therapist engage as equals, without the therapist imposing authority or personal views. There is no judgment—only unconditional acceptance and belief in each person’s inherent strengths and potential.

Olha Volodymyrivna Lazarenko

И

I understand the humanistic approach—from the Latin *humanos* (meaning 'human')—as the unity of one person with another and with themselves; a deep understanding and acceptance of every individual exactly as they are. I believe most psychotherapy methods and schools are rooted in this approach, because people inherently have the capacity to help themselves, and our role is to guide them toward results and teach them to handle similar situations independently. The essence of this approach lies in recognizing each person’s freedom to shape their own life, their ability to do so, and the understanding of humans as holistic beings—body, mind, and spirit. Humanistic practitioners view people as naturally active, striving for self-actualization, growth, and positive development. The therapist’s focus is on fostering personal growth rather than merely alleviating symptoms. According to humanists, every person carries an innate desire for connection—love, friendship, and collaboration. The key is to unlock these tendencies and create a safe, secure environment where they can flourish naturally. The ultimate goal of humanistic therapy is to awaken the individual’s inner strengths to craft their own life, because each person’s life is a work of art, and the humanistic psychologist is there to provide the support needed to create it.

Ирина Алексеевна Селивановская

Р

Humanistic psychology empowers individuals to recognize their freedom—not absolute freedom, but the freedom to choose, to shape their lives, their identity, their happiness, and their relationships. People are not entirely at the mercy of blind instincts or external forces; they are the authors of their own existence. Fundamentally, humans are good and strive for goodness; they simply need a little guidance to bring that to life.

Роман Миколайович Мельниченко

I believe humanistic psychotherapy fosters the growth of a healthy, creative individual by engaging with their deepest spiritual values. It helps people strive for self-actualization, find meaning in life, and gain a deeper understanding of their uniqueness. Through the freedom of choice and personal responsibility, individuals move beyond negativity and focus on positive self-realization and the development of their creative potential. Central to this approach is helping people truly know and accept themselves while embracing others as they are. This perspective encourages a more realistic view of the world and a balanced assessment of situations.

Viktoria Serhiivna Shatalova-Hovtva

Humanistic therapy focuses not on the client’s past (repressed experiences, drives) but on their future—on values, meanings, and the motivation behind their actions. As Viktor Frankl noted, once a person understands *why* they do something, they will always find *how*. This approach is distinguished by its view of human nature as fundamentally good; any “negative” behavior is seen as a deviation from that inherent goodness. The therapist’s role is to guide the client back to their true self. Additionally, humanistic psychology introduced the term *client* (an active participant with rights) instead of *patient* (a passive recipient of treatment), reflecting the collaborative nature of the therapeutic relationship and the therapist’s methods.

Nataliia Vasylivna Hlynyaniuk