Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This paper introduces History Therapy (HT)-a new interdisciplinary framework that integrates historical knowledge with psychological and philosophical approaches to meaning-making, well-being, and happiness. HT responds to the contemporary crisis of meaning-a widespread phenomenon marked by rising mental health issues and characterized by pervasive feelings of emptiness and lack of direction across diverse populations, from young people wrestling with existential uncertainty to adults experiencing distress upon receiving a serious medical diagnosis. To address this problem of meaning crisis, HT offers a method in which participants explore and analyze the worldviews of people from other eras and civilizations and compare their attitudes and beliefs with those of the past. This facilitates the emergence of their worldview, deep self-reflection, the discovery of new perspectives and alternative approaches to fundamental questions of life, a new understanding of one's own identity, and new meanings, all of which contribute to personal transformation and psychological well-being. Prior studies have focused predominantly on psychological or philosophical interventions to address the crisis of meaning. In contrast, HT offers a methodological framework that uses curated historical "cases" to expose participants to alternative cultural worldviews, thereby catalyzing novel forms of self-reflection. This integrates historical knowledge in a structured, replicable manner and expands traditional meaning-centered therapies by interdisciplinary perspectives from anthropology, archaeology, history, and psychology. The proposed pilot study further distinguishes HT from traditional therapeutic techniques. HT is aimed at individuals seeking deeper self-knowledge and personal meaning, as well as at therapists and coaches interested in expanding their professional practice with historical knowledge. This article discusses future research directions and potential applications of HT to develop and consolidate the new method as a valuable addition to the humanities, social sciences, and mental health disciplines.
Author: Natalia P. Simonenko
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,390
OpenAlex ID: W7119010550