Q. Mukesh was given therapy that encouraged him to seek personal growth and actualise his potential. Based on these principles, explain the therapy that is being applied here.
Ans: (i) The humanistic-existential therapies postulate that psychological distress arises from feelings of loneliness, alienation, and an inability to find meaning and genuine fulfilment in life.
(ii) Human beings are motivated by the desire for personal growth and selfactualisation, and an innate need to grow emotionally.
(iii) Healing occurs when the client is able to perceive the obstacles to selfactualisation in her/his life and is able to remove them. Self actualisation requires free emotional expression.
(iv) The therapy creates a permissive, non-judgmental and accepting atmosphere in which the client’s emotions can be freely expressed and the complexity, balance and integration could be achieved.
(v) Healing takes place by a process of understanding the unique personal experience of the client by herself/himself. The client initiates the process of self-growth through which healing takes place.