Conceptualization Paper (watch a movie and do write the paper )
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Chapter6.pptxExistential Therapy Chapter 6
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Existential Psychotherapy
Born from philosophy
A phenomenological philosophy of “humanness”
Humans are in a constant state of transition, evolving and becoming
Clients are searching for meaning in their subjective worlds
Common questions/sources of existential angst for clients
“Who am I?”
“I will die.”
“What does it all mean?”
“Will I die alone?”
“How am I going to get to where I want to be in my life?”
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Existential Therapy A Philosophical/Intellectual Approach to Therapy
BASIC DIMENSIONS OF THE HUMAN CONDITION
The capacity for self-awareness
The tension between freedom & responsibility
The creation of an identity & establishing meaningful relationships
The search for meaning
Accepting anxiety as a condition of living
The awareness of death and nonbeing
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The Capacity for Self-Awareness
The greater our awareness, the greater our possibilities for freedom
Awareness is realizing that:
We are finite--time is limited
We have the potential and the choice, to act or not to act
Meaning is not automatic--we must seek it
We are subject to loneliness, meaninglessness, emptiness, guilt, and isolation
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Identity and Relationship
Identity is “the courage to be”– We must trust ourselves to search within and find our own answers
Our great fear is that we will discover that there is no core, no self
Being existentially “alone” helps us to discover our authentic self
Relatedness– At their best our relationships are based on our desire for fulfillment, not our deprivation
Relationships that spring from our sense of deprivation are clinging, parasitic, and symbiotic
Clients must distinguish between neurotic dependence and the authentic need to be with others
Balancing aloneness and relatedness helps us develop a unique identity and live authentically in the moment
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The Search for Meaning
Meaning– like pleasure, meaning must be pursued obliquely
Finding meaning in life is a by-product of a commitment to creating, loving, and working
“The will to meaning” is our primary striving
Life is not meaningful in itself; the individual must create and discover meaning
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Anxiety – A Condition of Living
Yalom’s four givens of existence create anxiety: mortality, isolation, meaningless, and freedom
Existential anxiety is normal - life cannot be lived, nor can death be faced, without anxiety
Existential therapists help clients develop a healthy view of anxiety
Anxiety can be a stimulus for growth as we become aware of and accept our freedom
Anxiety can be a catalyst for living authentically and fully
We can blunt our anxiety by creating the illusion that there is security in life
If we have the courage to face ourselves and life we may be frightened, but we will be able to change
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Goals of Existential Psychotherapy
Helping clients to accept their freedom and responsibility to act
Assisting people in coming to terms with the crises in their lives
Encouraging clients to recognize the ways in which they are not living fully authentic lives
Inviting clients to become more honest with themselves
Broadening clients’ awareness of their choices
Facilitating the client’s search for purpose and meaning in life
Assisting clients in developing a deep understanding of themselves and the ways they can effectively communicate with others
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Relationship Between Therapist and Client
Therapy is a journey taken by therapist and client
The person-to-person relationship is key
The relationship demands that therapists be in contact with their own phenomenological world
The core of the therapeutic relationship
Respect and faith in the clients’ potential to cope
Sharing reactions with genuine concern and empathy
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Application to Group Counseling
Provides an ideal environment for therapeutic work on responsibility
Clients are responsible for their behavior in group
Group settings provide a mirror of how clients may act in the world
Through feedback members learn to view themselves through another’s eyes
Members learn how their behavior affects others
Builds interpersonal skills
Provides members with the opportunity to be fully themselves while relating to others
Creates an opportunity to relate to others in meaningful ways
Provides an opportunity to explore the paradoxes of existence
Learning to experience anxiety as a reality of the human condition
Making choices in the face of uncertainty
Discovering there are no ultimate answers for ultimate concerns
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Limitations of Existential Psychotherapy
The individualistic focus may not fit within the world views of clients from a collectivistic culture
The high focus on self-determination may not fully account for real-life limitations of those who are oppressed and have limited choices
Some clients prefer a more directive approach to counseling
The approach may prove difficult for clients who experience difficulty conceptualizing or have limited intellectual capacities
The approach does not focus on specific techniques, making treatments difficult to standardize
Limited empirical support
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