The Heideggerian view of person: A perspective conducive to the therapeutic encounter

The artistry of the therapist finds its origins in the therapistʹs authentic presencing of self and in the philosophical assumptions that constitute the therapistʹs perception of human beings. Based in existential phenomenology, Heideggerʹs view of person nurtures a conceptualization of individuals complimentary to the art of person-centered psychotherapy. Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology encourages ontological self-reflection and potentiates meaningful appreciation of oneʹs “being-in-world.” This study describes Heideggerʹs view of person as one that offers therapists and their patients an advantageous clinical orientation and an aesthetically comfortable realm from which the art of the therapeutic encounter can originate, be nurtured, and grow infinitely, thereby supporting patientsʹ self-transcendence, self-love, and well being.