This is the continuous and creative process of living. A humanistic practitioner enters into this process with another human being or beings and through the medium of a professional therapeutic relationship seeks to help them regain sovereignty over their lives. The need for psychotherapeutic intervention arises when interactions between or within the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual parts of a person are damaged or distorted, including interaction with the environment in which they live and with others. Characteristics of Humanistic Practice Humanistic practice works creatively with the dynamic between individual uniqueness and the categorising process that some find necessary to understand human beings and the world generally. The therapeutic relationship is the main or even perhaps the only medium of change rather than techniques, strategies and modalities which are only gateways to the encounter.
Theory is used as metaphor to aid a needed common language.
Transference and counter transference are seen as aspects of communication and are handled as such, rather than as the mainstay of the relationship. Therapy is a two-way process of relationship. Confrontation shows the client the maladaptive attitudes, beliefs etc. Therapy with the adult enables regressive issues to be contradicted in the present. One aim of therapy is uncovering and re-educating the real self.