Why “Humanate Psychotherapy”?
Humanate: (a.) Made human; imbued with humanity
To be honest, I had no idea the word “humanate” existed before I opened my practice. I can’t say I have that wide of a vocabulary! What I did know was that I wanted to portray a broader concept with my practice name- therapy is a human process at its core.
When I step into a session, I do not exist as a fully objective, impartial being. I am a human being with my own thoughts, feelings, and emotions- as is the person sitting across from me. The education and training I have received, therapeutic and relational skills I have acquired, and ethical and professional considerations I hold are not the only things I bring into this space. I bring along my own life experiences, my immediate gut reactions, the way my body feels, and other qualities that make me human.
Sometimes, I think we want going to a therapist to be like going to a doctor- the problem is identified, and a solution is created. While I know visiting the doctor is not always like that, what I’m getting at is the idea that a therapist is there to “treat” a problem and that sometimes that idea alone prevents progress from even happening. And can’t that be said for so much more in life? We want and maybe even expect life to be less convoluted and for the path forward to be more clear. We are so focused on when the problem won’t be there anymore that we end up neglecting the present. What would it be like to find a balance between setting goals and orienting ourselves to the future (or in a way, looking for a solution), and opening ourselves up to the present moment? Isn’t existence in the now the only true way to embrace the fullness of being human?
None of this is to say we shouldn’t expect our therapists to help us find solutions, address our problems, and support us in feeling better. As therapists, we ideally find our own balance between our personal self and our professional self. But the shared humanity between myself, and the people I work with, is what defines my practice.
I hope not to diminish the healing qualities of sitting with another human being, sharing your story, and knowing that that person is fully hearing and seeing you for who you are. Therapy can be a space to sit with, and explore, what being human feels like for you. You are more than your problems, and through therapy I believe there’s an opportunity to not just direct our focus on what those are but also on every fiber of your being that makes you you, that makes you human.
Humanate Psychotherapy: (n.) Using the therapeutic relationship and space to explore what it means to be human.
