In 1943, psychologist Abraham Maslow proposed the idea that when basic needs—such as food, water, and shelter—are not met, we lack the capacity to tend to higher needs. Once we meet our basic needs, we can turn our attention to psychological needs and self-fulfillment.
Although studies have shown that Maslow’s hierarchy is less concrete than he initially proposed, the concept is relatable to many. It’s often used in therapy, social work, business, and education as a prompt to discuss needs, goals, and priorities.
Our Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs printout is a simple introduction to the theory, perfect for prompting self-exploration and broader discussion. In therapy, consider using this worksheet to:
- Identify the needs clients are struggling to meet (and how that’s affecting their attention to other areas of life)
- Start a conversation about goals for therapy
- Validate the struggle of clients who are trying to fulfill “higher” needs while facing “lower” needs
- Discuss how your client’s individual needs differ from the needs shown in the hierarchy
Keep in mind that Maslow’s hierarchy should be presented as a broad way to think about needs—not something that’s set in stone. People don’t move through the hierarchy in a linear way. Instead, they’ll skip sections, go up and back down, or attend to multiple needs simultaneously. Additionally, individual and cultural differences may dramatically change the order and importance of needs.
