2. Act Responsibly. The existentialist view is that there is absolutely no escape from personal responsibility. Clients sometimes hear this as a warning or admonition, reminiscent of parental fiat, to be eluded rather than obeyed. The Humanistic therapist models responsibilityis responsible to be honest and confront the client in a non-threatening yet unambiguous way. Rather than lecturing, the therapist presumes and encourages responsibility.
Responsibility is the antithesis of blame or fault.
We are responsible for our life decisions, for our part in a partnership that decays for example, and for choosing the means to get on with our lives after disappointments and setbacks. Provide a Stimulating Environment. Freud stressed the use of a barren external environment to allow a patient to go deep within, to encourage transference uncontaminated by extraneous stimuli. I once had a young woman client who stayed with me for only four sessions. I asked her why she wanted to cut off therapy.