Existential Humanistic Theory

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Theories of Counseling:
Existential-Humanistic Tradition

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Existential-Humanistic Tradition

Shared Beliefs:

Humanism views people as essentially good and growth oriented.

If people depart from their basic nature, then they may commit bad or destructive acts.

If a relationship is characterized by acceptance, caring, trust and respect, a person can regain his or her emotional and spiritual equilibrium.

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

Basic Assumptions:

The Primacy of Experience: Seeks to understand personal experience. Every individual is unique.

Growth Orientation: People have a tendency toward growth and actualization.

Free Choice: People can choose what they become.

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

The Healing Relationship

Healing takes place within the context of a relationship that encompasses:

Empathy

Advocacy

Authenticity

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

History

It emerged out of the 1950’s

Abram Maslow was influential.

Focus was on positive mental health.

Maslow believed one could study external behavior and internal experience.

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

Existential Theory

Based in philosophy.

Inspired by the writings of Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, Jaspers and Buber.

Helps people examine issues of personal meaning.

Less about theory and more about offering perspective on the human condition.

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

Victor Frankl and Logotherapy

The genesis of logotherapy began in Auschwitz while Frankl was interned there.

Looks at the basis of survival and the will to live.

Declares that “attitude” is everything.

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

Existential Principles

Self Awareness: You live in the now.

Isolation: We are born alone and die alone.

Personal Meaning: What is the purpose for living?

Freedom: People have fear of freedom because with freedom comes choice and the possibility of bad decisions.

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

Existential Principles (continued)

Angst: Anxiety or dread.

Responsibility: We are responsible for our own lives.

Death: It kills us but without it we would not know we were alive.

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

Disadvantages of

It is dense, complex and difficult to master.

There is very little guidance for the practitioner.

You can be an existentialist but you cannot do it. It is not about technique but your own personal stance.

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

Advantages of Existential Therapy

Contemporary developments within this approach has made it more flexible and easier to use.

It has been adapted to briefer systems of intervention.

It provides a theoretical framework from which to be eclectic.

It is conducive to collaboration with the client to find a unique way of working together.

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

Counseling Relationship

Fosters genuine and authentic human connection.

Treats people as persons instead of as objects.

Uses the counselor’s own feelings of personal reactions and transference.

The counselor is a participant in the process.

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

The Therapeutic Process

Being in the moment: Focusing on the here and now.

Integrating the felt experience into primary relationships: The trust and intimacy found within the therapeutic relationship is generalized to other relationships.

Making connections to the past: Clients are encouraged to relive emotionally, past life events.

Integrating what was learned: Being a new person in the present moment.

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

Client-Centered Theory

History

Founded by Carl Rogers

Rogers was influenced by Otto Rank, John Dewey, Martin Buber, and Lao-tse (Chinese Buddhism).

Basic Assumptions

Listening with the self Core Conditions Reflecting Feelings

Empathy Active Listening Safety and Trust

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

Core Conditions

Contact: Participants are open each other and mutual influence.

Genuineness: To be authentic, congruent, human and transparent.

Unconditional Positive Regard: Accepting a person’s core being regardless of his or her behavior.

Empathy: Understanding the person from within his or her experience.

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

Features of a Client-Centered Session

Full and complete presence: Be fully present.

Openness and Unconditional Positive Regard: Respecting the person but not necessarily the acts.

Authenticity, Genuineness, Transparency and Warmth: Being the real you and not what you think the role of “the counselor” should be.

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

Features of a Client-Centered Session

Immediacy: Focusing on the here and now in the relationship.

Empathy and Active Listening: Reflecting content and reflecting feeling.

Focus on Affect and Feelings: Looking at the underlying message.

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

Multicultural Aspects: Clemmont Vontress

Vontress is concerned that technique obscures the real relationship with the client.

Vontress postulates that “only in a situation of caring and authenticity, can true healing and growth occur.”

Vontress emphasized being with the client in ways that respect cultural uniqueness.

In addition, spirituality and the connection with the past are seen as pertinent issues in counseling.

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

Gestalt Theory

History

Founded by Fritz Perls

Believed looking at the whole was more important than looking at the parts.

Motivated to perfect a theory as different from Freud’s as possible.

Basic Tenets

The Here and Now Personal Awareness Personal Responsibility

Awareness Unfinished Business Becoming more fully alive

Existential-Humanistic Tradition

Gestalt Techniques

The Here and Now: Everything important happens in the present.

Unfinished Business: Things from the past, haunt us in the present.

Channels of Resistance: Blocks people use to preven themselves from having contact with others.

Choices of Language: Client’s aren’t allow to overgeneralize.

Resources

Ivey, A. E., D’Andrea, M., Ivey, M. B. and Morgan, L. S. (2002). Theories of counseling

and psychotherapy: A multicultural perspective, 5th ed. Boston, MA.: Allyn &

Bacon.

James, R. K. & Gilliland, B. E. (2003). Theories and strategies in counseling and

psychotherapy, 5th ed. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Kottler, J. A. (2002). Theories in counseling and therapy: An experiential approach.

Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.