The Humanistic Psychologist, Vol 54(2), Jun 2026, 117-122; doi:10.1037/hum0000423
Assuming the role of editor of The Humanistic Psychologist is a great honor and responsibility, especially at this time in history. As I write this inaugural editorial, rampant dehumanization and polarization are gripping the United States and much of the world. Political strife has many feeling paralyzed and helpless. In this context, many psychotherapy techniques and modalities frequently used by therapists seem to be becoming less reliable and effective, as Alicia Muñoz (2025) lamented. This limitation, she suggested, is related to the evolving issues that are increasingly presenting in therapy. Many modalities are not designed to help people struggling with the deep existential issues that pervade society today. These include dehumanization, racism, increasing authoritarianism, the threats of climate change, and similar issues. In contrast, humanistic and existential therapies seem more prepared to face contemporary existential realities, as Schneider (2024) noted. After all, we have been writing about uncertainty, polarization, and humanizing therapy for nearly a century. Humanistic and existential psychology has often stood apart from mainstream psychology, critiquing it when it has diverged from humanistic values. The Society for Humanistic Psychology and its journal, The Humanistic Psychologist, have ensured that Humanistic Psychology maintains an influential voice in professional psychology. In recent years, the voice of humanistic psychology has grown in influence in no small part due to the authors who have published in The Humanistic Psychologist. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)