History as Therapy: A Novel Interdisciplinary Framework for Meaning-making and Well-being

This paper introduces History Therapy (HT)-an interdisciplinary framework that integrates historical knowledge with psychological and philosophical approaches to meaning-making, well-being, and happiness. HT addresses the contemporary crisis of meaning, marked by mental health issues and feelings of emptiness among diverse populations, from young people facing existential uncertainty to adults distressed by serious medical diagnoses. HT provides a method for participants to explore and analyze the worldviews of people from other eras and civilizations and compare their attitudes and beliefs with those of the past. This fosters deep self-reflection, new perspectives on life's questions, a better understanding of identity, and new meanings, all of which contribute to personal transformation and psychological well-being. Prior studies mainly focused on psychological or philosophical interventions to address the crisis of meaning. In contrast, HT provides a 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 enhances meaning-centered therapies with interdisciplinary perspectives from anthropology, archaeology, history, and psychology. HT targets individuals seeking deeper self-knowledge and personal meaning, along with 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.