ABSTRACT

The basic principles and assumptions of humanistic psychology are summarized in Table 10.1. The humanistic approach to art therapy is based on three assumptions. First, people are not seen as “mentally ill,” but rather as encountering specific problems in their efforts to cope with life-as a result of intrapsychically or environmentally caused conflicts. Treatment is directed toward reinforcing the will to live, and developing the ability to find meaning and identity in as fully creative a lifestyle as possible.