humanistic existential therapy /hyo̅o̅′mənis″tik/ , a kind of psychotherapy that promotes self-awareness and personal growth by stressing current reality and by analyzing and altering specific patterns of response to help a person realize his or her potential. This process may be facilitated in a group setting, where additional aspects of problems are revealed through interaction with others. Also called existential humanistic psychotherapy. Kinds include client-centered therapy, existential therapy, Gestalt therapy.
