EXISTENTIAL

PSYCHOTHERAPY
Learning Objectives:
Know the history and important figures of
the theory

Describe the therapist-client relationship

Application of the theory

Strengths, weaknesses and critiques of

Existential psychotherapy
An Introduction
and History of
Existential
Psychotherapy
 What is Existential
Psychotherapy?
Existential therapy is more a way of thinking, or an
attitude about psychotherapy, than a particular style of
practicing psychotherapy.
It is neither an independent nor separate school of
therapy, nor is it a clearly defined model with specific
techniques.
Philosophical approach

FOCUSES: REJECTS:
person's current deterministic view of
stuggle human nature
Historical Background in Philosophy
and Existentialism
Existential therapy movement was not founded by any particular person or group;
many streams of thought contributed to it.

Early existential psychoanalysts who contributed key ideas to existential

psychotherapy:

SØREN KIERKEGAARD (1813-1855)

FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE (1844-1900)
MARTIN HEIDEGGER (1889-1976)
MARTIN BUBER (1878-1965)
LUDWIG BINSWANGER (1881-1966)
MEDARD BOSS (1903-1991)
JEAN-PAUL SARTRE (1905-1980)
Key figures in Contemporary
Existential Psychotherapy
-

Viktor Frankl (1905-1997)

theories were tested by the tragedies of his life

Rollo May (1909-1994)

believed psychotherapy should be aimed at helping people discover the meaning
of their lives and should be concerned with the problems of being rather than
with problem solving

Irvin Yalom (born in 1931)

believed that a different therapy must be designed for each client because
each has a unique story and advocates using the here and now of the
therapeutic relationship to explore the client's interpersonal world

James Bugental (1915-2008)

coined the term "existential-humanistic" psychotherapy
Other Contributors to
Existential Therapy

Kirk Schneider, who with colleagues Orah Krug, David Elkins,

and Ken Bradford are helping to extend existential principles to
a new generation of practitioners

They developed an existential-integrative therapy

Existential-integrative approach emphasizes such areas as

personal and interpersonal presence, the working through of
resistance, the rediscovery of meaning and awe, and
contemplative practices.
KEY CONCEPTS: View of
Human Nature
The crucial significance of the existential movement is that it
reacts against the tendency to identify therapy with a set of
techniques

Existential Tradition seeks a balance between recognizing

the limits and tragic dimensions of human existence on one
hand and the possibilities and opportunities of human life on
the other hand
KEY CONCEPTS: View of
Human Nature
The basic dimensions of the human condition, according to the
existential approach, include:

1. the capacity for self-awareness

2. freedom and responsibility
3. creating one's identity and establishing meaningful
relationships with others
4. the search for meaning , purpose, values, and goals
5. anxiety as a condition of living
6. awareness of death and non-being
Therapist's Function and Role
Existential therapists are especially concerned about
clients avoiding responsibility; they consistently invite
clients to accept personal responsibility

Therapists with an existential orientation usually deal

with people who have what could be called a restricted
existence

For Buntegal (1997), a therapist's function is to assist

clients in seeing the ways in which they constrict their
awareness and the cost of such constrictions
Techniques used by Existential
Therapists
Existential practitioners may make use of techniques that
originate from diverse theoretical orientations, yet no set of
techniques is considered essential.

"There is no one right way to do therapy, and certainly

no rigid doctrine for existentially rooted techniques.
What is crucial is that you create your own authentic
way of being attuned to your clients"
-Russell (2007)
Relationship Between Therapist and
Client
Existential therapists give central
prominence to their relationship with
the client

Attention is given to the client's

immediate, ongoing experience,
especially what is going on in the
interaction between the therapist
and the client
Relationship Between Therapist and
Client

Therapy is viewed as a social

microcosm in the sense that the
interpersonal and existential
problems of the client will become
apparent in the here and now of the
therapy relationship
Relationship Between Therapist and
Client
Therapist with an existential orientation
believe their basic attitude towards the client
and their own personal characteristic of
honesty, integrity, and courage are what
they have to offer

Existential therapy is a voyage into self-

discovery and journey of life-discovery for
both client and therapist
Relationship Between Therapist and
Client

Buber's (1970) conception of the I/Thou

relationship has significant implication in
the relationship between the therpaist and
client

Relating in an I/Thou fashion means that

there is a direct, mutual, and present
interaction
Relationship Between Therapist and
Client

Therapists invite clients to grow by

modeling authentic behavior. If therapists
keep themselves hidden during the
therapeutic session or if they engage in
inauthentic behavior, clients will also
remain guarded and persist in their
inauthentic ways
Relationship Between Therapist and
Client
"The therapeutic alliance is the powerful
joining of forces which energizes and
supports the long, difficult, and frequently
painful work of life-changing
psychotherapy. The conception of the
therapist here is not of a disinterested
observer-technician but of a fully alive
human companion for the client"
-Bugental (1987)
APPLICATION:
Therapeutic
Techniques and
Procedures
The existential approach is unlike most other therapies in that it is not technique-oriented.

The interventions existential

"Existential therapists prefer to be
practitioners employ are based on thought of as philosophical
philosophical views about the nature companions, not as people who
of human existence. These repair psyches" -Vontress
practitioners prefer description,
understanding, and exploration of
client's subjective reality, as
opposed to diagnosis, treatment, and
prognosis
A primary ground rule of existential Existential therapy is a collaborative
work is the openness to the adventure in which both client and therapist
individual creativity of the therapist will be transformed if they allow themselves
and client to be touched by life
The main guideline is that the
existential practitioner's
interventions are responsive to the
uniqueness of each client
The starting point for existential
work is for practitioners to clarify
their views on life and living
The nature of existential work is
assisting people in he process of
living with greater expertise and
ease
When the deepest self of
the therapist meets the
deepest part of the client,
the counseling process is
at its best. Therapy is a
creative, evolving process
of discovery that can be
conceptualized in three
general phases
Phases of
Existential
Counseling
Initial Phase of Counseling
During the initial phase of the
counseling:

the therapists assist the clients

in identifying and clarifying
their assumptions about the
world
Clients are invited to define and
question the ways in which they
perceive and make sense of
their existence
They examine their values,
beliefs, and assumptions to
determine their validity
Middle Phase of Counseling
During the middle phase of the
counseling:

Clients are assisted in more fully

examining the source and
authority of their present value
system
Individuals get a better idea of
what kind of life they consider
worthy to live and develop a
clearer sense of their internal
valuing process
Final Phase of Counseling

During the final phase of the

counseling:

Focuses on helping people take

what they are learning about
themselves and put it to action
Clients typically discover their
strengths and find ways to put
them to the service of living a
purposeful existence
Clients Appropriate for Existential
Counseling

Van Deurzen (2002b) suggests that this form of

therapy is most appropriate for clients who are
committed to dealing with their problems about
living, for people who feel alienated from the
current expectations of society, or for those who
are searching for meaning in their lives.
Strengths From a Diversity Perspective
Existential approach is highly relevant in working
in a multicultural context
"Existential counseling is probably the most
useful approach to helping clients of all cultures
find meaning and harmony in their lives, because
it focuses on the sober issues each of us must
inevitably face: love, anxiety, suffering, and
death"
Focuses on universality, or the common ground
that we all share
It enables clients to examine the degree to which
their behaviors is being influenced by social and
cultural conditioning
Shortcomings From a Diversity Perspective
The existentialists can be criticized on the
grounds that they are excessively individualistic
and that they ignore the social factors that cause
human problems
It is highly focused on the philosophical
assumption of self-determination, which may not
take into account the complex factors that many
people who have been oppressed must deal with
Many clients expect a structured and
problem-oriented approach to counseling
that is not found in the conventional
existential approach
Limitations and Criticisms of the Existential Approach
It lacks a systematic statement of the principles and practices of
psychotherapy
Both beginning and advanced practitioners who are not of
philosophical turn of mind tend to find many of the existential
concepts lofty and elusive
the notion of annualized therapy and evidence-based practice
are not part of the existential perspective because every
psychotherapy experience is unique
Existential therapy makes use of techniques from other theories,
which makes it difficult to apply research to this approach to
study its effectiveness
the main limitation of this approach is that of the level of
maturity, life experience, and intensive training required of
practitioners
Current trends
in Existential
Psychotherapy
Emphasis on the Individual's Subjective Experience

There is a growing recognition of the

importance of understanding the individual's
subjective experience and their unique
perspective on the world. Existential
psychotherapists are placing greater
importance on helping individuals find meaning
in their own lives, rather than imposing a one-
size-fits-all approach.
Integration with Positive Psychology

There is a growing trend of incorporating

positive psychology into existential
psychotherapy. This includes emphasizing the
importance of cultivating positive emotions and
strengths, as well as finding meaning and
purpose in life.
Use of Mindfulness and Meditation

Mindfulness and meditation are being

increasingly used in existential
psychotherapy as a way to help
individuals live in the present moment
and become more aware of their
thoughts and emotions.
Focus on Existential Concerns

Existential psychotherapy is returning to

its roots, with a focus on exploring the
fundamental questions and concerns of
life, such as death, freedom, and
meaning. This helps individuals to gain a
deeper understanding of themselves and
their place in the world.
Use of Creative and Expressive Techniques

Creative and expressive techniques, such

as art therapy, writing, and drama
therapy, are becoming more popular in
existential psychotherapy. These
techniques can help individuals express
themselves in new and innovative ways
and gain insights into their experiences.
Attention to Social and Environmental Issues

There is a growing awareness of the

impact of social and environmental issues
on individuals and their mental health.
Existential psychotherapists are
increasingly addressing these issues in
therapy and exploring how they impact an
individual's sense of meaning and purpose
in life.
Thank you for
listening!