Principles of the humanistic approach to psychotherapy include fostering greater capacities for self-awareness and understanding of relationships with others; strengthening relational bonds; clarification and development of values, personal meaning and life goals; promotion of an environment of mutual care, respect and empathy; development of a greater sense of personal freedom and choice while respecting the rights and needs of others.

Interests of humanistic psychology include phenomena such as the aspirations of individuals, their goals, desires, fears, potential for and actualizing of personal growth, and qualities such as empathy, congruence, authenticity, presence, and intimacy. Experiences of loss, tragedy, and pain are understood as reflecting basic issues concerning the nature of the self, the nature of existence, and the nature of one's engagement in the world.

Humanistic psychology aims to be faithful to the full range of human experience. Its foundations include philosophical humanism, existentialism, and phenomenology. In the science and profession of psychology, humanistic psychology seeks to develop systematic and rigorous methods of studying human beings, and to heal the fragmentary character of contemporary psychology through an ever more comprehensive and integrative approach. Humanistic psychologists are particularly sensitive to uniquely human dimensions, such as experiences of creativity and transcendence, and to the quality of human welfare. Accordingly, humanistic psychology aims especially at contributing to psychotherapy, education, theory, philosophy of psychology, research methodology, organization and management, and social responsibility and change.*

*American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Mission of Division 32, Humanistic Psychology. Retrieved on August 10, 2006, from www.apa.org/divisions/Div32/history.html