In this week’s post, we will explore Existential Psychotherapy.
Basic Concepts
Unlike Gestalt therapy, Existential psychotherapy is defined by its philosophical orientation as opposed to a set of techniques. In fact, although many different techniques could be used with this orientation, there really aren’t any techniques that originated from it.
Existential psychotherapists believe that it is the finite nature of life that makes it meaningful. Said differently, the concept that we will all die someday in and of itself gives our lives meaning. However, it is up to the individual to determine what that meaning is.
Or, as Rollo May puts it: “To grasp what it means to exist, one needs to grasp the fact that he might not exist,…can never escape the fact that death will arrive…the confronting of death gives the most positive reality to life itself.”
-Rollo May, 1958
But simply discovering meaning isn’t enough to keep people from developing psychopathology. Once people determine the meaning of their lives, they must take action in order for it to come to fruition. Existentialists believe that people have the freedom to make choices that support their own ideas of their purpose in life. However, with that freedom comes responsibility. People are also responsible for their own lives, and so Existential therapy would center around both the ideas of meaning, choice and responsibility.
Similar to Gestalt therapy, the role of the here and now takes precedence. An Existential therapist may discuss past events with the client, but it is done through an Existential lens. Meaning, the discussion of the event consists of current feelings and thoughts to elicit meaning.
The therapeutic stance of the counselor is one of fellow traveler. The idea is that we are all human, we will all die, and we are all traveling through life together. Therefore, Existential therapy is similar to Gestalt and Rogerian (client centered), but very different from Psychoanalysis, where the therapist is considered the expert. Because of this stance, self-disclosure is more common in Existential therapy.
Techniques
Basically, any technique that can be adapted to fit with the theoretical underpinnings would be appropriate. Here are some examples:
- Journaling – Have the client journal about significant events in their lives, such as losses or deaths, and what those events meant to them.
- Dream analysis – During session, have the client tell you about a dream they had. Explore how the client felt during the dream, and what the significant figures or events of the dream meant to them.
- Empathy – When we consider the therapeutic stance of fellow traveler, empathy becomes an important part of the therapy. Even if the counselor has not had a similar experience, they can demonstrate empathy by exploring what the client’s experience meant to them.
As a final note, if you haven’t read Viktor Frankl’s book Man’s Search for Meaning, it is an excellent read and illustrates the concepts of this theory.
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Barbara LoFrisco
