PSY 722 - Humanistic and Existentialist Therapy Approaches I

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This course will examine basic concepts and approaches in the humanistic, existential, constructivist, and phenomenological schools of psychology (H-E). The course will cover theoretical models, conceptualization, and the historical relevance of H-E approaches relative to other major psychological theories/approaches. The roots of humanistic approaches from existential philosophy (Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Sartre) as well as the theories of May, Maslow, Rogers, Yalom, Frankl, Perls, Kelly, Bugental, Gendlin, Wilber, Rowan, and Elkins will be explored. Humanistic concepts such as self-actualization, congruence, and holism; existential concepts such as meaning and meaninglessness and dialectical thinking; phenomenological, postmodern, and constructivist concepts such as social and relational construction of reality and dynamic configurations of the self; as well as narrative, metaphoric, and experiential techniques will be addressed. A critique of behaviorism, psychoanalysis, and cognitive-behavioral theory from an H-E “lived experience” perspective and critiques of H-E approaches, especially pertaining to the hyper-individualism of H-E theory and Western society at large, will be provided. The course will also introduce feminist, constructivist, narrative, and critical psychology approaches as they emerge against logical positivist and rationalism. Particular attention will be paid to diverse worldviews and ethnic, cultural, and individual differences as they impact the construction of multiple selves.