What is 3P-based psychology?
If you’ve never heard of 3P-based psychology before, you’re hardly the only one.
But among those who have come across it, there is overwhelming agreement that this understanding of the human psychological design is more helpful and makes far more sense than the explanations they’ve encountered in the past.
I'm one of them myself.
Throughout my many years as a clinical psychologist, I have drawn on several different psychological frameworks. They have all had something valuable to offer, but none of them has been as simple, as profound, or as effective as the 3P-based approach.
It didn't just change the way I work as a psychologist. It changed the way I view other people—and the way I view myself.
It changed my understanding of life, and thus my life.
In a very positive and uplifting way.
What does 3P mean?
3P stands for Three Principles.
The 3 Principles are the principles that describe not only our psychological design, but also how every experience is created. And they point out that we have an innate inner psychological well-being that is always working for us and that can never break down—no matter what we’re going through or how we’re feeling right now.
The principles are: thought, consciousness, and life force.
We humans are constantly shaping our own experience of life through our thinking. And that thinking can be more or less contaminated (helpful)
It may sound abstract. But in reality, it points to something very concrete.
Imagine waking up one morning and feeling like the world is a heavy burden. You feel inadequate, irritable, or worried. People are annoying and inconsiderate, your job is boring, the chores at home are endless (and, by the way, your home looks worn out and dreary, a bit like you), and the world seems to have turned against you.
The next day, you wake up, and those exact same people, tasks, and surroundings feel easy, manageable, and maybe even cozy; you actually feel pretty great and competent, and life is wonderful.
What changed?
Hardly the whole world.
What changed was your perception of the world. The thoughts through which you viewed the world changed in nature, and as a result, your perception changed.
That is exactly what 3P psychology points out.
Life is experienced from the inside out
One of the fundamental ideas behind 3P is thus that we experience life from the inside out.
It seems as though what happens outside of us determines what thoughts we have and how we feel. But in fact, it’s exactly the opposite:
The thoughts we’re currently focusing on determine 100% how we experience what’s outside of us and how we feel.
That doesn't mean the world around us doesn't exist.
Nor does it mean that difficult experiences aren't real.
It simply means that our experience of the world is always shaped by our own thoughts in the present moment.
Our thoughts work just like a pair of glasses.
When the lenses are dark, the world looks dark and gloomy.
When the lenses are clear, the world looks bright and light.
The problem is that we almost always forget that we’re constantly looking through the lens of our own thoughts.
That’s why it feels as if the world has changed. It seems as if the world actually IS the way we think it is, the way we experience it.
Thoughts are not facts
One of the most liberating aspects of 3P-based psychology is the realization that thoughts do not necessarily tell the truth (in fact, it is very rare for our personal thoughts to do so)
For example, we might think:
“I know she’ll be happy about this”
“It’s going to be boring at the party tomorrow”
“Nobody likes me”
“She only said that to hurt me”
“That’s the kind of experience you never fully get over”
“I already told him that—it’s so annoying that he can’t remember it”
Each of these thoughts will be presented to us as the absolute, indisputable truth.
And it may very well be that they’re correct.
But the fact is that we can’t know for sure any of these thoughts or assertions. It’s something our minds come up with, and then it seems like the truth to us. (And if even just 1/10 of it turns out to be spot on, our minds will instantly use that 10% to “prove” that they’re always right, and then conveniently “forget” the remaining 90%.)
The funny thing is that our minds can turn each of these truths into the exact opposite in the blink of an eye:
“I know she won’t be happy about this”
“It’s going to be a blast at the party tomorrow”
“I have the best friends in the world”
“She didn’t mean any harm by that—it was just poorly worded”
“You just have to pick yourself up and move on”
“Shit, I totally forgot to say that”
And then, all of a sudden, these thoughts seem like indisputable truths.
It's not that we're lying to ourselves. Or that we're particularly stupid.
It’s simply because it’s in the nature of thoughts to be constantly changing and to seem credible, and because we may, quite innocently, come to believe them—that is, end up putting on those glasses.
But once we begin to understand the pattern, it becomes easier not to let ourselves be controlled by every thought that pops into our minds.
We become more mindful.
We are born with mental health
Another central idea in 3P psychology is that we all possess innate mental health.
That doesn’t mean we always feel happy.
Nor does it mean that life never hurts.
It simply means that behind all our ever-changing thoughts lies a natural calm, clarity, and vitality that always strive to bring us into balance—and that can never be lost or harmed.
Many people describe it as an inner compass.
Something inside us knows what we need and what is right, long before our analytical mind has succeeded in figuring it out.
When our thoughts settle down, it often becomes easier to sense the direction our inner compass is pointing.
How does a psychologist who uses the 3P approach work?
As a 3P-based psychologist, my goal is not to “fix” people or give them tools for self-development.
Because I don’t see people as broken or underdeveloped. In this principle-based understanding, people simply CANNOT be broken, and we are already completely perfect.
That doesn’t mean we can’t go through hell or do inappropriate things.
And when we’re having a hard time, it can feel as if something has broken, or as if we need to improve who we are.
But the difficulty isn’t because there’s something wrong with us; it’s simply because we’re caught in a storm of inappropriate thoughts that we’ve come to believe in through no fault of our own.
Just as the sun is still there behind the clouds, our mental health is still there—even when we can’t feel it.
My work, therefore, isn't about fixing you.
It’s about helping you recognize how your mind works.
Helping you see and trust your innate inner health.
Helping you realize that your thoughts are offers you receive—and that you can choose to accept them—they are not a master you’re obligated to engage with and obey.
As that understanding begins to take hold, you’ll naturally find more peace, clarity, and the drive to take action.
It's not because you've learned a bunch of techniques or exercises that you do every day.
But because you discover something healthy within yourself—something that has always been there, trying to guide you—
So isn't 3P psychology the same thing as positive thinking?
No, it isn't.
In fact, it's far from it.
3P isn't about thinking positive thoughts, although it is nice when you do.
Nor is it about controlling or changing your thoughts.
(That's actually nearly impossible, anyway.)
It’s about realizing that thoughts come and go and that we don’t have to take them seriously.
The less we struggle with them, the faster they actually change.
That insight can bring a surprising sense of freedom.
Who can benefit from a 3P-based psychologist?
A 3P-based approach may be appropriate if you are experiencing:
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A 3P-based approach can be helpful for anyone who wants to feel better than they do right now.
Maybe you’re doing just fine, but would like to add a little extra “wonder” to your life, or maybe you’re having a really hard time and feel like you’re always struggling against life without ever winning?
I have conversations with both groups, and everyone in between.
stress or burnout
anxiety or worries
restlessness and racing thoughts
low self-esteem
life crises
relationship conflicts
depression
personality disorders
feeling stuck
To me, 3P psychology isn’t just another method or technique.
It’s a new way of understanding people.
An understanding based on the idea that we are all born with mental health, that our thoughts are constantly changing, and that peace of mind is not something we have to create—but something we can discover.
Once we start to see this, life often feels simpler.
Not because life changes.
But because we realize that we don’t need to take it so seriously.
For many people, it is precisely this realization that marks the beginning of lasting change.
If you're curious about whether a 3P-based approach can help you, you're always welcome to contact me.