Reconciling humanistic ideals and scientific clinical practice Article

Sheldon, KM, Joiner, TE, Pettit, JW et al. (2003). Reconciling humanistic ideals and scientific clinical practice . CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY-SCIENCE AND PRACTICE, 10(3), 302-315. 10.1093/clipsy/bpg026

cited authors

  • Sheldon, KM; Joiner, TE; Pettit, JW; Williams, G

authors

abstract

  • A rift currently exists between two camps in clinical psychology: mental health practitioners, who resonate to concepts such as self-actualization and personal growth, and research scientists, who often shun such concepts as overly value-laden or as empirically indefensible. In the present article we first suggest that this gap is bridged by self-determination theory (SDT), which incorporates aspects of humanistic theories and also stands up to rigorous scientific investigation (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2000). We then demonstrate how self-determination principles may be applied in the context of empirically supported medical and clinical treatments, to promote enhanced client motivation and treatment compliance. We conclude that scientifically supported treatments and the humanistic tenets of SDT actually facilitate one another, such that clinicians who ignore either of the two aspects may shortchange their clients. © 2003 American Psychological Association D12.

publication date

  • December 1, 2003

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 302

end page

  • 315

volume

  • 10

issue

  • 3