Engaging Frantz Fanon to Advance Existential-Humanistic Psychotherapy

Although Frantz Fanon identified as a psychiatrist and continued practicing until his death, his psychotherapy influences have received less attention than his political impact. The publication of Alienation and Freedom (2021) provides English scholars access to the breadth of his psychological scholarship. Fanon avoided identifying with any psychotherapy school because they inadequately considered the lived experience of the Black person (Hudis, 2015). However evident points of convergence between existential-humanistic (EH) psychotherapy and Fanon’s psychotherapy practice exist, including emphasis on humanism, disalienation, phenomenology, reducing stigma, and empowering patients. Fanon expanded these concepts and their application through a cultural lens. His multicultural and social justice perspectives in psychotherapy were decades ahead of the rest of the field. EH psychotherapy would benefit from deeper, consistent engagement with Fanon’s critique and advancement of psychological concepts and practices. Furthermore, Fanon engaged in advances beyond convergences with EH psychology that are valuable to consider, including immersion in other cultures to better understand patients and recognition of the need to understand the patient’s cultural context. Last, he modeled being a citizen psychologist; however, for Fanon this could include seeking to critique, upend, or dismantle psychological and social systems as part of this citizenship. Fanon recognized that treating the mental health needs of patients necessitated seeking transformation or replacement of systems contributing to their suffering and oppression including the related mental health needs.