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Existential therapy strengths and weaknesses
Advantages of existential therapy
Existential psychotherapy is a dynamic approach to therapy which focuses on concerns that are rooted in the individual's existence
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There are many different techniques and approaches to group counseling. The approach that I found to be the most interesting is the existential approach. “The existential perspective holds that we define ourselves by our choices” (Corey & Corey, 2014, p.114). This approach can be successful in therapy because it allows one to oversee one’s future. In this paper, I’m going to generally discuss the existential approach to therapy and where it can be used. The existential approach to therapy has six key propositions: (1) We are able to be self-aware, (2) We need to be responsible for our choices that we make freely, (3) We are allowed to be who we are, (4) Things can always change, (5) Anxiety is a normal feeling, and (6) Death is inevitable (Corey & Corey, 2014). There are different types of existential therapy, but the main purpose remains the same. It is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day stress of life. One could easily forget that they are in control of their actions and reactions. “The aim of therapy is that the patient experiences his existence as real…which includes becoming aware of his …show more content…
Existential therapy is a technique that brings awareness to the power of our choices. “This existential approach has opened the way for a more agentic view of human nature and has taken into consideration some of the most fundamental concerns of humanity, which were previously underappreciated in the field of psychology” (Bartz, 2009, p.70). It has been shown to be successful in a variety of groups. Some of these groups are; children, people who have been adopted, incarcerated youth, and victims or culprits of abuse. One doesn’t have to only use one theory or approach during their practice. When it comes to existential therapy, the person using the approach can adapt their interventions to fit their style and personality. At the end of the day, it’s about what will work for the
Van Deurzen, E. (2000). Humanistic-existential approaches. In C.Feltham & I. Horton (Eds.), Handbook of Counselling and Psychotherapy (pp.331-336). London: SAGE Publications.Ambrose, T.K., & Mayne, T.J. (1999). Research Review on Anger in Psychotherapy. Clinical Psychology, 55(3), 353-363.
We may nevertheless say that existentialism is a form of phenomenological philosophy that relies on certain reflective methods of studying human consciousness instantiated in the individual, society, and culture, which emerged as a popular general movement characteristic of 20 century European thought represented thought represented across many disciplines including literature, the humanities, and the social sciences. Existential psychology rejects the mechanistic views of the Freudians and instead sees people as engaged in a search for meaning (Trull & Prinstein, 2013, p. 382), therefore an existential psychotherapist may attribute the cause of the person’s anxiety to lost meaning of life. As Trull and Prinstein (2013) stated, the ultimate goal of existential psychotherapy is "to help the individual reach a point at which awareness and decision making can be exercised responsibly" (p. 383). The role of an existential psychotherapist is to enable the client to come closer to experience. By experiencing self, the client can learn to attach meaning and value to life. Sometimes the therapist will confront the client with questions “that force the client to examine the reasons for failure to search for meaning in life” (Trull & Prinstein, 2013, p.
Existential therapy focuses on the positive approach of looking at an individual as whole, incorporating multiple factors and tendencies to applaud human capacities and acknowledgement. Fridrich Nietzsche is a philosopher who is known as the founder of existential theory by theorizing that any individual can overcome any event or concern through internal wisdom and self powerment. In fact, I believe existential therapy is closely related and are similar to multiple approaches, such as the humanistic approach by looking at the concept of individuals having moral, internal ethical values which drives their behavior in a positive aspect. Due to this, existential therapy focuses on the good within individuals bringing out positive attributions
Irvin D. Yalom, author of the book The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, has vast knowledge and experience with group therapy and, in this book, imparted it to neophyte counselors in a logical and detailed format. The author carefully explained the therapeutic value of a group, the factors necessary to facilitate change, and the role of the therapist. The author emphasized the here-and-now focus, and how group members create a social microcosm of their life within the therapy group. Yalom advised on practical matters, like the selection of clients and the creation of the group. He then carefully explored the stages that groups move through and some problem members could encounter.
Part 2; Theoretical Approaches to Group Counseling examines 10 theoretical approaches dealing with theory and practice of group work. The 10 chapters are as follows: The Psychoanalytic Approach to Groups, Adlerian Group Counseling, Psychodrama, The Existential Approach to Groups, The Person Centered Approach to Groups, Gestalt Therapy in Groups, Transactional Analysis, Behavioral Group Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy in Groups, and finally Reality Therapy in Groups. The aforementioned chapters follow an organizational pattern, this organization makes comparing the 10 theoretical approaches easier for the reader.
Corey, G. (2013). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks Cole.
In existential the focus is on assisting individuals on becoming authors of their own lives with the philosophical framework of what it means to be human. Psychodrama allows individuals to explore problems through role play to develop new behavioral skills. Gestalt therapy warrants the here-and-now, bringing unfinished business to the present, allowing individuals to deal with those problems now. Person-centered approach concentrates on self-exploration, learning to accept one’s self, and determining avenues to take to change. Collectively, I found the most valuable and meaningful aspects of experiential and relationship oriented approaches to be self-exploration and bringing unfinished business to the present to help individuals deal with those problems
In consequence, humanists and existentialists argue that people who mostly receive judgment and criticism for their behaviors are more vulnerable to developing a psychological disorder because they fail to recognize their worth (Comer, 2016, pg. 110). Overall, the humanistic-existential treatment model objective is to change clients’ harsh self-standards as they gain self-awareness and self-acceptance by valuing and giving meaning to their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (Comer, 2016, pg. 110). The main types of therapy for this model are client-centered therapy, gestalt therapy, and existential therapy. In these type of treatments, practitioners avoid giving personal remarks and their opinions, because they allow the client to control the session by creating a supportive and warm atmosphere in which clients are able to accept their weaknesses as well as their strengths while critiquing themselves honestly in an attempt to find their own solutions (Comer, 2016,
Psychotherapy has been Around for many years and has a major role in our world today. It has grown over the years and now there are known many hundreds of different theories about. Clients that use therapy are for different reasons as to cope with a change of life experience or a disorder or for personal development. Integrative psychotherapy has been around for over one hundred years but has really only come into the forefront of therapy since the late 1970’s. “Research has indicated that psycho¬therapy is moving toward an integrated approach to therapy” (Norcross, 2005b). The therapy is a mixture of all theories that are tailored by the therapist professional experience to work with the client in a positive way. This assignment will look at the factors needed to enable the therapist to carry out successful therapy. It will highlight and explain what the five principles of integrative therapy are. Also, with the common factors and how they are important and across all therapies. Also,
.... This is where the freedom comes in. If the Therapist were to force something on the client by saying this is what's wrong, and here is how you fix it, they might head in the right direction at first, but not because of their own will. By allowing them to make a conscious effort to help themselves it will mean more and last longer. In reading this book I learned a lot about the way existential therapy works, and how I can go about helping people that come to me for advise. Not only do I understand that people have the freedom to make there own choices, but also now I understand that people have the freedom of responsibility which allows them to change their lives and better themselves.
Existential Therapy (ET) will be utilized in this case study to assist M’Lynn through the counseling process to acknowledge that she is the one making the choices in her life, and deciding what course her life takes. In Existential Therapy (ET), there are numerous incarnations and techniques because the emphasis is on individuality, recognizing that each therapeutic relationship is unique (Jones & Butman, 2011). In Existential Therapy (ET) the focus is on what the client is experiencing in the present, not what has occurred in their past. The focal point of Existential Therapy (ET) is self-awareness and self-understanding. The relationship between the counselor
Existential therapy is more of a skills-based therapy (Adams, 2015). Existential counselors must cultivate existential skills in themselves so that they can in turn pass on to clients during psychotherapy (Adams, 2015). Adams (2015) highlights the difference between learning skills and learning information by explaining that skills-learning involves acting differently, whereas information-learning is more integrative. I view therapy as a highly individualized process. There is no set method for every client. Above all, I believe the authentic way in which I interact with my clients will have a more significant impact than any technique I utilize. I will encourage clients to practice their authenticity both inside and outside the therapy
The systems that I had originally identified most strongly with throughout my semester in Music in Psychotherapy were Person-Centered Therapy and Existential Therapy. Upon further research, I learned of Gestalt Therapy, which is an existential form of psychotherapy. We did not research this particular form in class, but found this system to be quite intriguing and felt that aspects of it would combine nicely with the others. Though I would very much like to, I have never been to any type of therapy in which I was the client. After doing the first reading for this class, which was the Person-Centered Therapy chapter, I quickly realized that even just studying the different systems on my own would become very beneficial to my own mental health. I also realized how difficult it would be. Certain activities and ideas that I was presented with in both Person-Centered and Existential presentations were actually quite painful for me to be apart of. These activities raised my level of awareness, as they were intended to do. In a way, they asked me to face certain things about myself and the world around me that I was not so sure that I like. At first, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to be aware.
Since the beginning of though, philosophy has become one of the oldest subjects known to Man. Existentialism and the Mythical Worldview have been around for centuries and still inspire theories about them today. The Mythical Worldview and Existentialism share the common bond of the absurd, regardless of the fact that they are two distinct theories in Philosophy. In the following essay, the similarities and differences between these worldviews will be made evident as well as how they equally relate to the absurd by their nature and content.
I want to look at existentialism under two categories though it belongs with neither of them. It belongs properly, perhaps, in the field of religion, but it is to be met with in philosophy and psychology.