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Existential Therapy

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Anshul Aldrin
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12 views

Existential Therapy

Uploaded by

Anshul Aldrin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Existential Psychotherapy

“Existential therapy is a unique form of psychotherapy that looks to


explore difficulties from a philosophical perspective, rather than taking a
technique-based approach. Focusing on the human condition as a
whole, existential therapy applauds human capacities and encourages
individuals to take responsibility for their successes.” (Counselling Directory,
2017)

Existential approach originated from philosophical thinking, and to


be more precise - from the 1800s with the philosophers working
with the topic of human existence

The philosophers associated with existential therapy were Søren


Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche

- Kierkagaard had a view that a person can be more content


through internal wisdom, whilst Nietzche added that human state
of happiness can also be achieved through accepting the ideas of
free will and personal responsibility

- Later on, in 1900s, other philosophers such as Martin Heidegger


and Jean-Paul Sartre started exploring the ideas of therapeutic
healing through understanding and interpretation of (client’s) own
experiences
The core ideas in existentialism (the ‘givens’):

1 Freedom (and associated responsibility)

2 Death

3 Isolation (loneliness)

4 Meaninglessness

The analysis of the client’s beliefs:

- 1 The Physical Realm - involves everything ‘physical’ where birth,


death and emotions are real and valid for every living being

- 2 The Social Realm - where overall picture of the human being


and their relationships with others are considered. This would
include the society, culture, family, language and so on would be
brought to the surface and discussed.

- 3 The Personal Realm - this is where the client’s personal view of


themselves is taking into account. This also include the person’s
own identity, personal characteristics, weaknesses and strengths
are all considered.

- 4 The Making Realm - this is where the view of an ideal world is


considered. This would include religious beliefs, values,
transformation.

“This is the dimension where we make sense of our lives and is


considered the realm of transcendence” (Counselling Directory, 2017)
Who would benefit from existential therapy:

“Individuals who are interested in self examination and who view


their concerns as issues of living rather than symptoms of a
psychiatric illness are more likely to benefit from this approach to
counselling.

Existential therapy is also well suited to those facing issues of


existence, for example those with a terminal illness, those
contemplating suicide, or even those going through a transition in
their life.”

Recommended Literature:
‘Practising Existential Psychotherapy: The Relational World’ (2007),
Ernesto Spinelli

‘Existential Therapies’ (2016), by Mick Cooper


Recommended Websites:
‘What is Existential Therapy?’: Psychology Today. Available from:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/therapy-types/existential-therapy

‘Existential Therapy: Goals and Techniques’: Study.com. Available


from: http://study.com/academy/lesson/existential-therapy-goals-
techniques.html

Copyright: ©Elmira Strange

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