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Recommended: Existential Therapy
Emerging Theory Paper The general goal of existential therapy is to help clients live authentically and recognize when they are not. In the existential view, facing anxiety, determining values, and constructing a personal identity all contribute to an authentic existence (Corey, 2017). As a counselor with an existential perspective, one of my main concerns will be helping people to break away from dependence on others so that they can reclaim their lives. Within the therapeutic relationship, I will help clients develop their presence, with both themselves and others. I will assist them in identifying how they block themselves from complete presence, and challenge clients to assume responsibility for designing their present lives. I will …show more content…
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 …show more content…
I believe the effectiveness of existential therapy is highlighted by the fact that it can be integrated into most other therapies. Because existential therapy is not technique or method oriented, existential therapists are encouraged to utilize techniques from different theories which allows the counseling experience to be more individualized to each client’s needs (Corey, 2017). Existential therapy can be utilized through cognitive behavioral techniques, choice theory techniques, group psychotherapy, and family systems methods, to name a few (Corey,
Learning about Client Centered Therapy has opened my eyes to counseling. Roger’s theory of actualizing tendency and theory of self expanded my knowledge of my own self-concept as well as counseling. Rogers explained that every person has an innate drive to self-actualize. In many instances, loved ones put conditions for worth on him/her, which causes incongruence for the person. He/she begins to loose trust in his/her organismic valuing process. By understanding this concept, I am more inclined to stay true to my organismic valuing process. I have trust in my innate ability to lead myself in direction to self-actualizing. It may be challenging when others put conditions of worth on me, but understanding the concept may help me stay true to
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.
The purpose of the article is to “present a theoretical-practical reflection on the application of the Phenomenological-Existential Therapy with children and adolescents at a community based clinical setting” (Pires, 2016, p. 93). The article provides a summary of how Phenomenological-Existential Therapy can be applied in different contexts. The study consisted of a model that helped the therapist work together with the client, parents, and community. The model consisted of an eight-session therapy, including initial assessment, intervention, and follow-up. The therapy focused on the un-knowing, choice and freedom, eigenwelt, mitwelt, umwelt, uberwelt, being-in-the-world-with-others, and the four dimensions of existence. The intervention takes into consideration the child’s needs, the parent’s need, and the family’s community.
What is unique about constructivism is its ability to examine problems from the client’s point of view is that it allows individuals to create their own reality during counseling appointment. According to Pamelia Brott (2004), therapists act more as facilitators of change than therapeutic leaders, the client is viewed as the agent of change (191). The constructivist perspective reality comes into being through the interpretations of what the world means to the client individually (p.192). As Sharf (2015) explains, “…in the act of knowing, it is the human mind that actively gives meaning and order to that reality to which it is responding…" (p.455). Because of this the constructivist perspective does not provide a single theoretical structure as each counseling session is unique in providing client’s a solution that is applicable to
Guignon, B. C. and Pereboom, D. (eds). (2001). Existentialism: Basic Writings. Indianapolis, IN: Hacket Publishing.
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
Existential therapy is a brief therapy. However, it does not have a set time limit for how long the sessions will last or the duration of the therapy. The goal for existential therapy is to guide the client to strive toward authenticity in life, therefore when that goal is met and Michael can put striving for an authentic life into action will the therapy end. A strong therapeutic alliance is necessary in Existential therapy, client and therapist are being-in-the-world together, it the therapist’s aim is to understand the existential position of the client to peer into their phenomenological world. Client’s phenomenological world would be their subjective experience of the world and how they view, understand
“The goal of reality therapy is to help clients get reconnected with the people they have chosen to include in their quality worlds and to teach clients choice theory” (Corey, 2013, p. 183). Letting clients understand that they have a choice in their lives will help them gain control. Furthermore, “the goal of existential therapy is to challenge clients to recognize and accept the freedom they have to become the authors of their own lives” (Corey, 2013, p. 74). As individuals, we have to face different aspects of life such as isolation, freedom, and responsibility. Helping a client through their struggles and acknowledge these life struggles may help guide the client to a positive point in their lives.
Existential counselling doesn’t use set techniques like other counselling approaches; it’s philosophical in nature. It focuses more on the truth and reality rather than personality, illness or cure as they prefer to think in terms of the client’s ability to meet challenges that life presents us with. Dreurzen, E.V. and Adams, M. (2011) p.8. It believes that we are all free and responsible for our lives and for the consequences of the choices that we make.
Ross, Kelly L. "Existentialism." The Proceedings of the Friesian School, Fourth Series. Kelly L. Ross, Ph.D., 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
Existentialism is the epitome of the unknown. There is no straightforward explanation of what exactly it is, there is only certain characteristics and behaviors that describe existentialist views. Throughout today’s world, there are examples of it everywhere, it’s found in movies, books, songs, and just people in general. Existentialists are known to think and do for themselves only. They believe that to understand what it means to be human requires understanding of themselves first. Some very well known pieces of entertainment existentialism is found in are: Hamlet by William Shakespeare, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Stranger by Albert Camus, and The Breakfast Club by John Hughes. The Stranger is a book written about a young man whose mother dies, which soon leads him to becoming acquainted with the feeling of not caring about what his actions do to others or himself. The main character Meursault starts helping his friend Raymond, carry out ways to torment his mistress. Out of nowhere while at the beach, Meursault shoots Raymond’s mistress’s brother. He is thrown into jail and tried, but he seems to not be affected as much as he should about his actions. He first finds it hard to live without cigarettes, women, and nature, but he soon finds out he doesn’t need any of those. After being sentenced to death, he is suggested to turn away from his atheism but later realizes that human existence has no greater meaning. This realization and acceptance is what truly makes him happy (Camus). Next, The Breakfast Club is a very relatable movie about high school students suffering the consequences of their actions in detention. The kids are all of ...
1980). The way we choose to live is expressed by our well-being but at times when we are unable to accept that we are alone and find a way to be at ease with ourselves, then we at trouble. Such feelings ought to be accepted rather than changed them and that’s how existential an existential psychotherapist helps. We all have the freedom to choose the way we want to live, but however easy this seems to be, it comes with responsibilities. Any challenges we face in life we must take courage and overcome them. The client’s past is not a major concern when taking into consideration the strictly Sartrean perspective of this theory. The choices the client will make in the present and the future are the major concern in searching for a responsible approach in living a free life. However, some aspects of the client’s problem solving methods in the past may be of importance. In order to overcome their anxieties in life, the client must accept some aspects of their lives such as they are not special and living with others is just a coincidence and no destiny (Turner, A,
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
Further to the meaning of existentialism, Frankl emphasizes that logotherapy is not only an analysis of the client, but it is also a therapy in which the therapist and client enter into guided therapy as the client begins to determine their purpose and how they can accomplish this through changes in behavior and thought. In the article, Frankl also presents existential therapy not in opposition to Freud’s psychoanalysis but in addition to Freud’s work, stating that “psychoanalysis promotes the self-understanding of man” (Frankl, 1967). As Frankl expresses in the paper, “there are just as many existential therapies as therapist” (Frankl, 1967) but in the textbook Burger shares that Frankl is so aligned with existentialism that he would be labeled as an existential psychologist (Burger, 2015).
McCarthy, C. J. & Archer, J., Jr. (2013). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. ISBN: 9781621781059