Humanistic Counseling Process, Outcomes, and Research

Abstract

Humanistic approaches to counseling are particularly concerned with process, emphasizing the person of the client, the person of the counselor, and the therapeutic relationship.Process and outcomes in humanistic interventions are highly related and complementary aspects of counseling. Counseling outcomes may include client outcomes as well as research outcomes. Whereas client outcomes are focused on the specific needs of clients, research outcomes tend to focus on generalizable results. When considering process, outcomes, or research, the humanistic counselor seeks to integrate the principles of humanism into all aspects of practice.

Grounding Neuro‐Informed Practice in a Humanistic Framework: A Response to Wilkinson

“…Wilkinson described NFB as a resurgence of behaviorism that is overly reductionist and relies heavily on quantifiable factors of brain functioning (e.g., brain mapping) rather than on the first‐person, lived experience of the individual. This argument is similar to one posed in previous debates about the use of quantitative data in humanistic counseling (e.g., Lemberger, ; Scholl, Ray, & Brady‐Amoon, ). Some have suggested that as long as the imprecision of the quantitative data is acknowledged, and the data are understood as representing only one portrayal and not the full breadth of the human experience, then data such as those obtained from brain maps can add value to and expand the complexity of the human experience, thus raising awareness.…”

“…In reading Wilkinson's () description, one might assume there is limited value in NFB; however, what if clients believe that NFB will be helpful to their presenting concerns? Scholl et al () described a scenario in which the client's subjective experience was more discrete and focused (e.g., eliminating anxiety before public speaking) than a broader, more holistic approach akin to humanistic counseling. In sticking with humanistic principles, Scholl et al suggested honoring the clients’ subjective experiences of their presenting concerns and goals as well as their autonomy in the direction of counseling.…”

Will to Masculinity: An Existential Examination of Men's Issues

“…Additionally, the present work is not the first example of theorists applying an existential‐humanist lens to working with particular populations (e.g., Barker, ; Basma & Gibbons, ; Bellin, ; Vereen et al, ). Existentialism is considered to be an aspect of the larger humanistic approach to counseling, largely because of the shared emphases on both the value and the irreducibility of human beings (Basma & Gibbons, ; Scholl et al, ). The goal of existential counseling is an authentic being in the world, which requires that people become aware of themselves and the responsibility they have for their choices (Bauman & Waldo, ; Miars, ).…”

“…The counseling relationship is vital to this change process, but it is the client who needs to take responsibility to create that change (Miars, ). The responsibility to choose is central to the existential approach (Yalom, ), and when counselors honor a client's agency, they are living out a commitment to humanist values (Scholl et al, ). Within that relationship, counselors must work to create a “container of safety” (Bellin, , p. 222), which facilitates a space where the client can feel comfortable sharing experiences.…”

“…As Dewell and Foose () noted, “the current mental health culture finds itself in the midst of a protracted tilt toward the objectifiable, that is, toward perspectives that seek to quantify, define, and act upon human behavior” (p. 111). This is in juxtaposition to the antireductionist foundation of humanism, which values the subjective experiences of individuals (Scholl et al, ).…”