Using Altruism in Psychotherapy to Increase Clients’ Well-Being Altruism, which is the act of doing for others at one’s own expense, has long been associated with experiencing happiness, meaningfulness, and well-being in the world.
Those who receive acts of altruism report similar feelings along with gratitude, connection, and appreciation. Increasingly, and as thoroughly described by Cozolino (2017), the biopsychosocial processes which accompany the therapist guiding the client to engage in altruism has the potential to create a cascade of positive effects in therapy. Some of the benefits in therapy are thought to include:
- Decreasing stress, deepening the therapeutic alliance, and increasing neural
plasticity through the increase in oxytocin and dopamine, through activation of
attachment processes, and inhibition of the amygdala - Increasing self-awareness, self-reflection, perspective-taking, openness to
feedback, and a deeper engagement in therapy through activation in the temporal
lobes, prefrontal lobes, and the default mode network - Increasing self-esteem, self-agency, personal responsibility, and empathy through activation of the right amygdala, mirror neurons, orbitomedial prefrontal cortex, temporal-parietal junction, and the superior temporal zone
It is the impact of altruism on the mind, brain, and body that causes it to be a valuable agent for positive change in psychotherapy. While research into how altruism activates brain regions associated with psychotherapeutic processes and goals is ongoing, it appears that altruistic behaviors stimulate thoughts, feelings, and neurobiological processes important to the therapeutic process. Utilizing guided or instructive altruistic behavior in therapy may well be adjunctive to the goals of psychotherapy.
Encouraging, supporting, and guiding clients to altruistic endeavors can make meaningful contributions to clients’ lives. Clients can make positive contributions to society, increase feelings of self-efficacy, and see that they share the struggle for meaning and love with others.
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