The Humanistic Psychologist

"Be bold and daring and brave enough to be fully human in the places where we work" (Deagan, 2000, p. 196).

---

As a Social Work and Psychology student, I make my best effort to interweave these two domains. I approach Psychology from a humanistic perspective, which is how I intend to conduct my future practice with clients.

In one of my Social Work courses, "Culturally Competency," I was assigned to read an article, which I found clearly captured my framework for clinical practice. Often, I feel that the field of Clinical Psychology focuses so much on reaching the proper diagnosis or treatment plan, that clinicians forget the immense power their statue holds within a client's life. The importance to maintain professionalism and exactness can fog the need to relate to client's on a human level, setting aside the differences between who is the helper and who is the "helpee."

The NASW value I align the most with is to "maintain dignity and respect for the individual," and much of the time this can be executed by allowing one's heart to guide the focus their practice.

While it is difficult to balance the different perspectives Social Work and Psychology holds in regards of conducting clinical practice, I believe that my unique insight can add a different dynamic to graduate study, where I hope to effectively master my goal of being a humanistic psychologist.

---

Deegan 2000.pdf

Download PDF • 1.03MB