Humanistic/Existential/Phenomenological Psychotherapy

This entry reviews humanistic, existential, and phenomenological approaches to psychotherapy. The emergence of these approaches is described as well as the influence and work of major contributors. Developments in theory and practice of humanistic and experiential psychotherapy are presented, including the ideas of Carl R. Rogers (1902–87), Eugene Gendlin (b. 1926), Fritz Perls (1893–1970), and colleagues. This is followed by an overview of existential and phenomenological psychotherapy. The main philosophical ideas of existentialism are described, and their translation into psychotherapeutic practice is explicated. Other notable psychiatrists who were influenced by existential and phenomenological thought include R. D. Laing (1927–89) and Victor Frankl (1905–97). Keywords: experiential; Gendlin, Eugene; Gestalt; Maslow, Abraham; Rogers, Carl; emotion-focused; humanism; phenomenology