APPLIED

COUNSELLING
PSYCHOLOGY

SAARA, TANYA, UTKARSHNI

HUMANISTIC
THEORY OF
COUNSELLING
 ABRAHAM MASLOW
● Father of Humanistic psychology.

● Abraham Maslow was one of the most influential

psychologists of the twentieth century.

● Among his many contributions to psychology were

his advancements to the field of humanistic
psychology and his development of the hierarchy of
needs.

● Maslow’s career in psychology greatly predated the

modern positive psychology movement, yet the field
as we know it would likely look very different were
it not for him.
PHYSIOLOGICAL SAFETY NEEDS
NEEDS
They are the need to be physically safe
and sound. They come just above
These are the basic biological needs
physiological needs. For example, political
such as hunger and thirst. These
safety, insurance policies, safety at the
needs lie at the bottom of the
workplace. If these needs are fulfilled
pyramid. These needs are essential
appropriately, an individual can feel safe
for survival. For example, air,
and secure in their world. If these needs
warmth, water, food, shelter, and
are not met, it could lead to post-traumatic
sleep. If these needs are not met,
stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental
humans have the potential to get sick
health imbalances. An individual could
and in extreme circumstances, die.
also be physically unsafe if these needs are
not being appropriately fulfilled.
BELONGINGNESS AND LOVE ESTEEM NEEDS
NEED
They are the need to give and receive love and They are the need for competence and achievement.
to be accepted. They come after safety needs. They come after belongingness and love needs.

For example, friendships, family, relationships
with colleagues, social groups. These needs
can be gratified with college reunions, family
get-togethers, picnics, date nights or being part
of a social group. This need is helpful in times
of stress and pressure.
For example, rewards, awards, certificates,
promotions, honorable mentions. It is important to be
and feel respected by our colleagues, friends and
family. Maslow revealed that others’ respect and
admiration is a lower-level esteem need and the
respect we have for ourselves is a higher-level esteem
need.
COGNITIVE NEEDS
include the need for knowledge
and curiosity.
For example, Stacy has a
curiosity to solve really
complicated algebra problems.
She solves these problems in her
free time.
AESTHETIC NEEDS
Are a human’s need to search for beauty and
appreciation. Humans look for aesthetic
images and beauty around them to absorb
attractiveness and feel beautiful. This need
includes allowing humans to feel connected
with the environment and extract nature’s
beauty to feel intimate with their surroundings.
SELF-ACTUALIZATION
NEEDS
They are the need to realize one’s
full potential. It is at the top of the
pyramid of the hierarchy of needs
and not everyone can reach it.
Maslow believed that this need
would arise when all other lower-
level needs are met
TRANSCENDENCE
NEEDS
Include the need for meaning beyond
self.
For example, Harry wants to go on a
trip to the Himalayas all by himself
to explore the place and find some
meaning out of it.
 CARL
ROGERS
• Rogers’ theory of personality development was based
on humanistic psychology. According to his approach,
everyone exists in a world full of experiences.

• These experiences shape our reactions that include

external objects and people. Also, internal thoughts
and emotions. This is known as their phenomenal
field. Phenomenal field means a person’s reality,
objects, behaviour, thoughts and people.

• Roger believed that a person’s behaviour is a factor

motivated by self-actualization tendencies to work and
achieve the highest level of their potential and
achievement. During this process, a person forms a
structure of self or self-concept. A positive self-concept
is associated with feeling good and safe. If they have a
negative self-concept they may feel unhappy with who
they are
ROGERS DIVIDED THE SELF INTO TWO
CATEGORIES;
ideal and real self. The ideal self is the person you would
like to be, and the real self is what you really are. In the real
world, a person’s ideal self is not consistent with what
happens in life with a person. Incongruence is the difference
between the ideal self and actual experiences. Congruence
is when our thoughts about our real self and ideal self are
very similar, i.e. our self-concept is very strong and
accurate. High congruence leads to a greater sense of self-
worth and a healthy, productive life.
UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD
Rogers elevated the importance of unconditional positive regard
or unconditional love when developing self-concept. To fully
actualize, people are raised in conditions of unconditional
positive regard where no conditions of worth are present. When
people are raised in an environment of conditional positive regard
in which worth and love are only given under certain conditions
they must match those conditions to receive positive regard. The
ideal self is determined based on these conditions; this
contributes to incongruence and gap between real and ideal self.
The FULLY FUNCTIONING PERSON Rogers
believed that anyone could achieve their goals. This
means that the person is in touch with the here and now,
his or her subjective experiences and feelings that are
continually growing and changing. Rogers regarded the
fully functioning person as an ideal figure and the one
that people do not ultimately achieve. It is a process of
becoming and changing.
FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF A FULLY
FUNCTIONING PERSON ARE;
• They are open to experiences, positive and negative emotions. Negative feelings are
worked through.

• Existential living is in touch with more experiences in life as they occur. Living in the
moment and appreciating the present.

• Trust feelings of gut reactions. People’s own decisions are the right ones, and we should
trust ourselves to make the right choices.

• A person doesn’t stay safe all the time; they seek new experiences and so risk-taking is
a part of life.

• A person who is living a fulfilled life i.e. happy and satisfied and always looking for
new challenges and experiences.
 EXISTENTIAL THEORY
● Existential therapy is a type of psychotherapy (talk therapy) that encourages people to use
their free will to create meaning and purpose in life if they feel lost, hopeless, or alienated.
It can help someone with depression, anxiety disorders, or substance addiction understand
how their personal choices influence their future.
● Existential therapy is based on existentialism, a philosophy in which life is considered
"meaningless" and meaning can only be found through one's own choices.It reinforces the
belief that each person has a personal responsibility for their behaviors.

● existentialism is grounded on the acceptance of four "givens," namely: .

1. Freedom: People have the freedom and responsibility to create meaningful lives.
2. Isolation: People are ultimately alone.
3. Meaninglessness: Life can feel meaningless.
4. Death: No one can escape death.
● In psychotherapy, existential therapy is founded on the belief that each
person has the free will to make choices and find meaning in their life, even
if the human condition seems lonely, meaningless, and temporary. 3
● It reframes experiences like loneliness, anxiety, and hopelessness as neither
"good" nor "bad" but as states of the human condition. Personal choice,
therefore, becomes the one factor that can change these conditions.
● By placing the responsibility for change in your own domain, you can
identify what you believe to be your life's purpose and set goals to achieve a
higher degree of meaning and purpose.
● Certain principles that drive the practice of existential therapy:

• Open, interactive dialogue: Focusing on non-judgmental, two-way

communication with honesty and trust
• Mindfulness: Being present in the here and now rather than stagnating in
the past or obsessing about the future
• Philosophical questioning: Asking questions about the larger meaning of
life and sharing your belief on what the meaning of life is
• Treating all experiences as equal: Avoiding dismissiveness or the ranking
of experiences by order of importance
• Avoiding labels: Reframing experiences as neither "good" nor "bad" but
ones from which you can examine your choices and make new ones
 GESTALT THEORY
● Gestalt therapy is a form of psychotherapy that is centered on increasing a person's
awareness, freedom, and self-direction. It's a form of therapy that focuses on the
present moment rather than past experiences.
● Gestalt therapy is based on the idea that people are influenced by their present
environment. Each individual works to achieve personal growth and balance.
Gestalt therapy focuses on the use of empathy and unconditional acceptance. This
helps individuals get rid of distress by learning how to trust and accept what they
feel.
● The word "gestalt" is a German term with no direct English translation. It
generally means "whole" or "form." It is an idea that views every individual as a
blend of the mind, emotions, body, and soul with unique experiences and realities.
● Through gestalt therapy, individuals are able to develop new perspectives
and bring positive changes into their lives. They can do this because gestalt
therapy promotes increased self-awareness and a clear understanding of
thoughts, emotions, and behavior.
● gestalt therapy has become a proven and effective therapeutic
approach in addressing and treating different mental health
conditions. Some of these conditions include:
• Anxiety. Gestalt therapy helps people focus on the present. This allows
individuals to discover what immediate thoughts, feelings, or behavior may
make them feel anxious.
• Behavioral health issues. Gestalt therapy can help people with behavioral
conditions like bipolar disorder. It's also an effective therapeutic method for
treating substance abuse, compulsive gambling, and PTSD. People
struggling with these conditions may develop a new view on life through
gestalt therapy and may see a positive change in their lifestyles.
• Depression. Since gestalt therapy focuses on self-awareness, it can help
people with depression become aware of possible stressful situations that
trigger their depression.
 GESTALT THERAPY TECHNIQUES

● The different gestalt therapy techniques involve a series of experiments and exercises.
Therapy can be done individually or in a group setting. Exercises and experiments
help individuals increase their awareness and understanding of the here and now.
● Different techniques of gestalt therapy work differently for different individuals since
everyone's past experiences are unique. ‌Here are examples of the different gestalt
therapy techniques:
• Paradoxical change. The theory of paradoxical change focuses on the need for
self-acceptance. It helps individuals develop an improved sense of self-awareness.
When an individual makes peace with who they are as a person, it helps them live in
the present. This results in more positive feelings and mood.
• "Here" and "now". This technique enables individuals to appreciate past experiences and how
they influence their present thoughts and behavior. By being conscious of internal factors that
influence their present lives, individuals can learn to let go of the past. This helps them focus on
the here and now. The objective of this technique is to help them live for the present and make
positive changes going forward.
• Empty chair technique. This technique helps individuals to open up and practice talking with
an empty chair. The goal of this technique is to visualize yourself opening up to a particular
person you needed to talk with. When you open up as if the person was sitting there listening, the
therapeutic experience of opening up sets the stage for healing.
• Exaggeration technique. This technique works by making an individual become aware of
underlying issues that could be linked to their present problem. The therapist may request you to
exaggerate a specific behavior or emotion. This helps in identifying and addressing the root of
the problem.