Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

I often use Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in working with clients to assist them in being able to visualize their motivations and barriers to growth. It is very useful in understanding the primary needs and goals. If a client or couple is struggling with finances, they are going to be focused on the second level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs identified as “safety”. It increases the level of stress and makes it much more difficult to deal with higher level needs. Clients often find it useful to know that sex or reproduction is at the first level of needs identified as “physiological”. It is such a strong instinct that Freud became stuck on its importance and focused his theory of psychology on sexuality. It is always an important aspect of couples work. And since almost all therapy is about relationship with others it is virtually always comes up in individual work. To focus therapy and to be able to function on the higher level needs of “esteem” and “self actualization” it is important that the lower level needs be fulfilled at some level. Over time and even throughout the day we will typically move between the different levels. If a couple is focused on a different level of need or a different objective within a need; such as, one being focused on sleep and the other on sex within the “physiological” level, conflict with arise. Being able to work with couples to identify and visualize their conflicts within Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is often a good starting point.