The Human Givens Institute (HGI) is both a membership organisation open to those wishing to support and promote the Human Givens approach through all forms of psychological, educational and social interactions, and the professional body representing the interests of those in the caring and teaching professions who work in alignment with the scientific knowledge available about the 'Givens' of Human Nature.

The holistic, unifying strength of the Institute is the shared perception among its members that the human givens approach endeavours to include all currently known implications arising from research into the functioning of the human brain, in conjunction with the body, and the wider society in which we all live. The Human Givens approach is a continually evolving one, incorporating new knowledge and insights as they become available. Current mental health and educational institutions do not yet operate from such a basis, which is why HGI is necessary.

Our aims are -

To raise general awareness of 'The Givens of Human Nature' – which clarifies what we need in order to live mentally healthy and fulfilled lives, and provides us with the framework for improving all forms of human endeavour and interaction

To raise awareness of what constitutes effective therapy, and why the human givens approach belongs to this category

To improve access to Human Givens therapy, including via GPs and the NHS

To extend the use of the human givens approach to other fields, such as education and diplomacy

To improve the way children are educated

To improve services to mentally and emotionally disturbed people

To make community life more humane and tolerant

To show why human life is intrinsically meaningful

In addition, the HGI coordinates reviews of related scientific studies and relates them to the broad information base from which the Human Givens concept derives. It advances education, monitors examination standards at the Human Givens College, sets standards of professional practice in this area, and organises local, national and international meetings to maintain and advance the 'Human Givens' perspective.

In addition to this, therapists need to take account of the fact that human beings are social creatures, and that our lives take much of their meaning from interaction with other people. It follows that therapists will take account of the social networks within which they and the patient are operating and within which their needs must be met in a balanced way.

It also speaks for those of its members — professional psychotherapists, counsellors, teachers, social workers and others in the medical/caring professions — at whatever level they operate, whose day-to-day work depends on this approach, and the therapeutic and educational techniques consequent on it.