Chapter 4 Existential Therapy
Both a philosophy and a philosophical approach to counseling. Not a particularly well-defined way of counseling. Based on the philosophy of 19 th century theologian and philosopher Kierkegaard. Focused on the pursuit of becoming an individual. Emphasis on the need for commitment.
Common Beliefs and Differences Existentialists share some common beliefs: Importance of anxiety, values, freedom, and responsibility in human life. Emphasis on people finding meaning in what they do. As a group, existentialists differ widely in their emphases.
Major Existential Theorists Rollo May Co-founder of the Association for Humanistic Psychology in the 1960’s. Viktor Frankl Began using the term logotherapy. Believed that meaning is a by-product of human discovery.
View of Human Nature/Personality Believe that people form their lives by the choices they make. Contend that people are responsible for any choice they make, healthy or not.
Peak Experiences Maslow describes Peak Experiences as: Having a holistic perspective of the world. A natural tendency toward cooperative action (synergy). Being intrapsychic, interpersonal, intercultural, and international. Being more consciously and deliberately metamotivated.
Existential Vacuum A sense that life has lost all meaning. Individuals who are self-indulgent may feel a sense of normlessness and valuelessness. Carried to an extreme, these individuals would develop noogenic neurosis – characterized by the feeling that one has nothing to live for.
The Meaning of Life Frankl believes we can discover life’s meaning in three ways: Ultimate Meanings – there is an order to the universe. Meaning of the moment. Common, day-to-day meaning.
Anxiety May argues that normal anxiety may be healthy and motivational and can help people change. Often associated with paralysis. Existentialists focus on the meaning of anxiety in human life.
Roles of the Counselor/Therapist There is virtually no agreement among existentialists about how to systematically formulate their ideas into a uniform way of helping others. Part of the reason is that existentialists believe that every client is distinctive. As a result, counselors are sensitive to voice, posture, facial expression, dress and apparently accidental moves of the body. Not unusual for counselors to share personal experiences to deepen the relationship.
Roles of the Counselor/Therapist Concentrate on helping the client experience subjective feelings, gain clearer self-understanding and move toward the establishment of a new way of being in the world. Focus on living productively in the present, not recovering a personal past. Focus on ultimate human concerns. Do not use psychological tests or make diagnoses.
Goals Realize the importance of meaning, responsibility, awareness, freedom and potential. Take more responsibility for their life. Shift from an outward to an inward frame of reference. Become sensitive to experiences. Call attention to unique traits and characteristics. Improve encounters with others. Establish a will to meaning. Make a decision about both present and future directions in life.
Process and Techniques Specific techniques are rarely used repeatedly. Fewer techniques than most models of counseling. Existential counselors view models as a means of “manipulating” clients. Existential counselors also make use of confrontation.
Multicultural and Gender Sensitive Issues Existentialists focus on human conditions that are universal to people from all walks of life. Gender issues are de-emphasized in the approach. Both women and men have feelings of meaninglessness, isolation, and anxiety.
Strengths and Contributions Emphasis on the uniqueness of each individual. Recognizes that anxiety is not a negative condition, but rather a part of the human condition and can act as a motivator. Access to a tremendous amount of philosophy and literature. Stresses continued human growth and development. Effective in multicultural and gender counseling situations. Helps connect individuals to universal problems faced by humankind. May be combined with other perspectives and methods.
Limitations and Criticisms Has not produced a fully developed model of counseling. Lacks educational and training programs. Difficult to implement beyond an individual because of its subjectivity. Clinicians do not diagnose or test their clients. Closer to existential philosophy than to other theories and therapies associated with counseling.
The Case of Linda: Existential Therapy How would you conceptualize this case using Existential therapy? What would be your treatment plan for this client using an Existential approach?