The universal foundation of all therapy is self-exploration, empowerment to the client, and a supportive environment. Several widely practiced techniques used in humanistic therapy incorporate listening, accepting, understanding, and sharing.
Some forms of humanistic therapy that are commonly applied include:
- Gestalt therapy
- Person-centered therapy (also known as client-centered therapy)
- Solution-focused therapy
- Transactional analysis
- Transpersonal psychology
- Existential psychology
- Reality therapy
The two most widely used forms of humanistic therapy are gestalt therapy and person-centered therapy. Dreamwork is one humanistic therapy technique used in gestalt therapy, by analyzing the meanings of images and feelings. “The empty chair” is another common technique, which involves an imaginary conversation with another person.
In person-centered therapy, the humanistic therapy technique used is “active listening.” The therapist remains non-judgmental and supportive, and also sets clear boundaries to ensure a safe environment. The therapist also remains genuine, accepts negative feelings that arise, and works from the client’s viewpoint.