Towards Human Flourishing: What Christian Counselling Can Gain from Humanistic Psychology

I’ve always been drawn to the work of Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow. I remember first learning about their research within my PSYC 100 class and being fascinated by their sensitivity to the human condition—and recognition that people thrive best when they are safe, purposeful, and loved. Their focus on empathy, authenticity, and potential within every person resonated deeply with me, not only as a student of psychology but also as someone shaped by a Christian worldview.

However, as I continued to learn and grow over the years, I began to notice subtle but significant tensions (even disagreements) between these humanistic ideals and the theological convictions that ground my work as a Christian counsellor. To throw all of humanism out the window—as though it has nothing to offer—would, I believe, be a mistake. And yet, we must take time to carefully consider the beliefs and assumptions within humanistic psychology that stand opposed to the Gospel and biblical truth.

Christian counselling can certainly benefit from the insights of humanistic psychology—particularly its emphasis on empathy, self-awareness, and unconditional positive regard—while also critiquing its underlying assumptions about human autonomy, morality, identity. What we need is a theologically grounded vision of human flourishing—one that affirms the value of each person without losing sight of our need for grace, truth, and transformation in Christ.

The Origins and Strengths of Humanistic Psychology

Humanistic psychology (commonly referred to as “humanism”) came forward during the 1940s and 50s as a more positive and “hopeful” alternative to Freud’s psychoanalysis. In a broad sense, humanism emphasizes the inherent worth and dignity of all people, as well as our propensity towards success and flourishing under the right conditions.

The key proponents of this theoretical framework were Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. Maslow is most recognized for his Hierarchy of Needs, which suggests that people are intrinsically wired to move towards “self-actualization”—his term for human flourishing. He believed that, once our basic needs are met, we have more ability to become “fully functioning” individuals. Rogers created person-centred therapy, and this perspective continues to influence clinicians all over the world. He found that creating a safe, nonjudgemental space—characterized by “genuineness,” empathy, and the famous “unconditional positive regard”—promoted healing in his clients.

Christianity over the centuries has had its own ways of understanding and communicating similar ideas. Here are some of the overlapping similarities between Christian theology and humanistic psychology:

Imago Dei

The Imago Dei has long been the basis for recognizing the dignity and worth of all persons and has even been the inspiration driving human rights efforts around the world. Christianity believes that all people are made in the image of God, regardless of any condition, granting each person inherent worth and value. This theological truth affirms the humanistic idea that all people carry value and are deserving of respect; however, the Christian tradition grounds this belief in our created nature and relationship with God, rather than human potential alone.

Empathy, Presence, and Compassion

Everywhere he went, Jesus showed deep compassion and care for those who encountered him. He made room for them in his ministry itinerary, listened to them, and dignified those who were hurting and marginalized. Christian counselling should follow Christ’s example by offering a nonjudgmental space for all, showing care and attention to those in need that mirrors God’s love for and nearness to the broken-hearted. These qualities may align with humanistic values; but in Christian practice, they are motivated by grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

A Holistic Perspective

Although a more secular version of humanism has taken over in recent decades, the origins showed appreciation for a holistic approach to care: emotional, relational, and existential. Both humanistic psychology and Christianity recognize people as more than their symptoms, meaning that healing and transformation must engage the whole person: body, mind, soul, relationships… not just surface-level behavioural change.

As we transition to looking at the issues or shortcomings of humanistic psychology from a Christian perspective, let us also acknowledge the value added by this theoretical framework. Counsellors everywhere—Christian and not—use tools like reflective listening, empathic conjecture, and unconditional positive regard—skills rooted in Rogers’ work. These techniques both support and facilitate moments of healing, especially when guided by biblical truths. In this light, Maslow’s goal of “self-actualization” becomes more like “Christ-centred transformation,” where the purpose is not merely to become the best version of ourselves, but to become more like Christ. The Christian counsellor understands that true growth is not rooted in personal fulfillment but in each person being renewed in heart, mind, and identity through relationship with God.

Where Humanism Falls Short

While humanistic psychology offers valuable tools and a hopeful vision, it also presents a significant departure from a biblical understanding of the human condition. It is essential for Christian counsellors and helpers to examine where this framework diverges from Christian theology—especially in its view of human nature, moral authority, and personal identity.

Human Nature

Humanism views the person as being inherently good and having the internal resources needed to achieve wholeness (i.e. self-actualization). This worldview operates on the assumption that, under the right conditions (e.g. safety, love, opportunity), people will organically grow into the best versions of themselves.

As appealing as this may sound, it stands in contrast to the understanding of human nature found within Scripture. While affirming the value and worth of all people (again, because of the imago Dei), Christian theology also recognizes the fallenness of humanity due to sin. In this sense, growth is not a journey of “self-actualization,” but rather a Spirit-led process of grace, repentance, forgiveness, and transformation through Christ.

Moral Authority

Another major difference is how morality is understood and sourced. For the humanist, everyone determines for themselves what is “right” or “good” based on their personal values or cultural norms. This often results in moral relativism, a perspective that no absolute moral authority exists and therefore all moral decisions are purely subject to the individual.

Christianity, however, believes that morality is determined and revealed by God through His character and Law, as understood through Scripture and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Instead of inventing our value systems or moral codes, Christians are invited to align themselves with God’s perfect will—which significantly affects counselling by grounding moral decisions not in personal preferences but in biblical truths.

The Self and Identity

Identity is a huge topic today, largely because of the influence of humanistic psychology and post-modernism. Much like morality, humanism sees identity as something we “construct”—largely shaped by personal experiences, feelings, and desires. In contrast, the Christian tradition teaches us that identity is not self-determined but given to us through union with Christ. This invitation to identification with Christ is marked by humility, dependence on God, and living as a child of God—not personal achievement or self-expression. The Christian counsellor’s role (and hopefully the pastor’s or spiritual director’s role too) is then to help people, not just “find themselves” in a humanistic sense, but to find their identity within God’s story.

In each of these areas, we see that humanism ultimately places too much confidence and authority in the self and too little in the transforming work of God. While we must affirm the unconditionality of human worth and dignity, we must also acknowledge our deep need for God’s grace. To care for people in a wholistic sense, our counselling work needs to incorporate the best of what we know through science but remain ultimately grounded in Scripture.

Why Christian Counsellors Must Remain Theologically Anchored

The therapeutic landscape of today is constantly shifting and evolving. New modalities and frameworks emerge every day, which requires counsellors—especially Christian ones—to remain critically reflective about the methods and philosophies they adopt. Some counselling theories or approaches may appear to blend well with Christian values. In the case of humanistic psychology, their is an obvious draw towards important concerns like social justice or advocacy for the marginalized and oppressed. And yet, these similarities can sometimes rest on vastly different philosophical foundations. What may seem like Christ-like compassion on the surface can also carry underlying assumptions about identity, morality, and power that are incompatible with a biblical worldview.

Christian counsellors must practice theological reflection and discernment. Not every therapeutic approach is neutral or free from influence from the worldview(s) that shaped them. A subtle redefinition of sin, truth, or healing may, in fact, obscure the Gospel. That said: the goal should not be to reject all secular tools, but to thoughtfully and prayerfully evaluate whether they align with the truth found in Scripture. In the case of humanistic psychology, we are called to love people deeply and listen attentively, but also to point them toward lasting healing in Christ—even when that healing runs counter to cultural narratives. In a world of shifting and often competing ideologies, staying grounded in biblical truth is essential for offering care that is effective, compassionate, and Christ-centered.

Conclusion

Christian counselling has much to gain from humanistic psychology, especially its emphasis on empathy and human dignity. These values coincide with key themes in the Christian tradition and can aid in meaningful healing when grounded in the truth of Scripture. At the same time, we must acknowledge that humanism often places ultimate trust in the individual, while Christian faith encourages us to rely on God. True growth isn’t about fulfilling our own potential, but about being transformed by grace through relationship with Christ.

As the field of counselling continues to change, Christian practitioners should remain rooted in Scripture and thoughtful about the frameworks they use. Not every theory or approach is neutral, and some can influence how we view identity, morality, or healing, leading to less desirable outcomes for the client’s we are called to love and serve. The aim is not to dismiss all secular tools but to engage with them through prayerful consideration and thoughtful discernment. Ultimately, Christian counselling is most faithful and effective when it combines deep degrees of compassion with unwavering truth, always guiding people toward the hope and wholeness we find in Christ.