1. Mario De La Garza, M.Ed. University of North Texas
Theoretical Models of Counseling and Psychotherapy, 3rd Edition Chapter 5: Existential Counseling
Mario De La Garza, M.Ed.
University of North Texas

2. History Response to: Compartmentalization Determinism
Loss of awareness of self
Reductionism
Existential philosophy is the guiding force in theory and treatment.

3. Rollo May Anxiety-provoking childhood home
Nervous breakdown led to change in life
Influence of Adler
Influence of Tillich

4. Philosophical Underpinnings
Ontology: the study of being
Phenomenology: each person has a unique, subjective perspective of the world and self
Responsibility: for one’s own being
Freedom
Choice
Accountability

5. Function of the Psyche Potential to have the “I-Am” experience
To inevitably realize one’s own being/existence
“Existence precedes essence”
To preserve and assert one’s existence through the unfolding of one’s potential (master motive)
Innate in each person

6. Structure of Psyche: Givens of Life
Conditions present that threaten existence:
Death threatens the master motive.
Freedom threatens ground/structure.
Isolation threatens protection/merging/being part of a larger whole.
Meaninglessness threatens meaning.
Humans are innately endowed with the potential to perceive threats to existence and generate anxiety.

7. Structure of the Psyche
Dasein: the whole of one’s approach to existence
Includes structure (whole person)
Includes function (approach to existence)
Levels of Awareness
Self

8. May’s Essential Aspects of Being
Phenomenological centeredness
Potential to exist with other beings without losing centeredness
Awareness as self-consciousness
Awareness as vigilance
Anxiety as the struggle against nonbeing
Courage to self-affirm

9. Awareness of Ultimate Concern
Dasein
Every moment, one is being (structure and process)
When one responds to anxiety with defenses that deter a person from reaching one’s full potential, one is experiencing existential guilt.
Awareness of Ultimate Concern ↓
Anxiety
Defense Mechanism

10. Role of the Environment
Environment imposes limits and influences one’s being
Four interacting dimensions
Umwelt (physical world)
Mitwelt (interpersonal world)
Eigenwelt (personal world)
Uberwelt (spiritual world)

11. Role of the Environment
Cosmic destiny – limits imposed by laws of nature
Cultural destiny – limits imposed by preexisting social patterns
Circumstantial destiny – limits imposed by sudden situations

12. Personality Development
Stage 1: fusion
Experience Umwelt and limited Mitwelt
Stage 2: separation
Begin to experience Eigenwelt
Stage 3: satellization
Mitwelt influences Eigenwelt
Stage 4: similarity
One can experience Uberwelt

13. Healthy Functioning
Authenticity – ongoing striving as one repeatedly confronts decisions over the span of one’s existence
Awareness of anxiety
Confrontation of anxiety courageously
Use of anxiety constructively
Latitude for inauthenticity

14. Unhealthy Functioning
Living inauthentically
Excessive use of defense mechanisms
Denial/avoidance of the givens of life
Preoccupation with the givens of life
Too little or too much anxiety
Lack of courage
“Graceless, inefficient mode of coping with anxiety”

15. Personality Change Process
Change occurs through increased authenticity
Decreased use of defense mechanisms
Affirmation of fullness of living
Use of anxiety in a creative manner
This occurs in the context of an authentic relationship

16. Client’s Role Willing to explore givens of existence
Willing to face anxiety that comes from awareness
Willing to experiment with different responses to anxiety

17. Counselor’s Role Provide an authentic relationship
Understand and empathize with the client’s experience
Sensitively point out inauthenticity of client to client
Have a continuous searching attitude
Be aware of own struggle to exist

18. Stages & Techniques Use of silence Constructive questions
Interpretation
Attention to boundary situations
Focus is on the process of gaining a true understanding of the client’s Dasein and encouraging the client to confront the givens of existence in a courageous manner.

19. Recent Developments in Mental Health
Nature/Nurture
Umwelt and Mitwelt
Environmental factors are not as important as the individual’s subjective interpretation of, and choices regarding, them
DSM 5 Diagnosis
Destructive to holistic view of the person
Use is for insurance purposes and to communicate with other professions

20. Recent Developments in Mental Health
Pharmacotherapy
Used in extreme circumstances
Managed Care and Brief Therapy
Elements of existential counseling can be used in brief therapy
Elements of managed care are antithetical to theory

21. Recent Developments in Mental Health
Technical Eclecticism
Adopted elements need to be consistent with existential philosophy
Diversity
Givens of existence applicable to people across all cultures
Spirituality
Frankl’s logotherapy
Deurzen-Smith’s Uberwelt

22. Recent Developments in Mental Health
Effectiveness of psychotherapy
Striving for authenticity cannot be reduced nor measured

23. Weaknesses of Theory Lack of research on efficacy
Difficult to teach to counseling students
Lofty and complicated
Beyond evaluation
Lack of structure
Seems mysterious and vague

24. References
Fall, K. A., Holden, J. M., & Marquis, A. (2016). Theoretical models of counseling and psychotherapy (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.