Floral Picture Slide 4

MODULE 4.
THE EXISTENTIALIST
& HUMANISTIC
APPROACH TO
COUNSELING
Gospel – John
3:31-36
31  The one who comes from above is above
all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and
speaks of earthly things. But the one who
comes from heaven is above all.
32
 He testifies to what he has seen and heard,
but no one accepts his testimony.
33
 Whoever does accept his testimony certifies
that God is trustworthy.
34
 For the one whom God sent speaks the
words of God. He does not ration his gift of
the Spirit.
35
 The Father loves the Son and has given
everything over to him.
36
 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,
but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life,
but the wrath of God remains upon him.
 LET US
PAUSE FOR
A WHILE
FOR OUR
SILENT
REFLECTIO
N
The AUGUSTINIAN Prayer
•In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…

• Breathe in me O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.

Act in me O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.

• PROF: Saint Augustine

• ALL: PRAY FOR US
 Video reflection
Is life meaningless?
Nina Medvinskaya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPtzpjC7TF4
Reflective exercise 1
the so called life…
When I don’t find meaning in life
Humanistic approach

emphasizes the personal worth of the individual, the

centrality of human values, and the creative, active
nature of human beings. The approach is optimistic
and focuses on the noble human capacity to
overcome hardship, pain and despair.
Humanistic
&
existentialist
counseling
basic
assumptions
 Personal agency is the humanistic term for the exercise of free
will.  Personal agency refers to the choices we make in life,
the paths we go down and their consequences. It is one's
capability to originate and direct actions for given purposes. It
1. Humanistic is influenced by the belief. in one's effectiveness in performing
specific tasks, which is termed self-efficacy, as well as by one's
psychology actual skill.
begins with the
existential
assumptions
that people
have free will.
 The humanistic approach emphasizes the personal worth of
the individual, the centrality of human values, and the
creative, active nature of human beings.
2. People are
basically good The approach is optimistic and focuses on noble human
capacity to overcome hardship, pain and despair.
and have an
innate need to
make
themselves and
the world
better.
 3. People are
motivated to
Self-actualization concerns psychological growth, fulfillment and satisfaction self-actualize
in life. It is the complete realization of one's potential, and the full
development of one's abilities and appreciation for life. This concept is at
the top of the Maslow hierarchy of needs, so not every human being reaches
it. Nonetheless, both Rogers and Maslow regarded personal growth and
fulfillment in life as a basic human motive. This means that each person, in
different ways, seeks to grow psychologically and continuously enhance
themselves.
 4. The
subjective,
conscious
experiences of
Humanistic psychologists argue that objective reality is less the individual
important than a person's subjective perception and
understanding of the world. Sometimes the humanistic
is most
approach is called phenomenological. important
This means that personality is studied from the point of view
of the individual’s subjective experience.
Nature of maladjustment
 Incongruence i.e. “incapacity to be a fully functioning person”
not finding their purpose or reaching their true potential, i.e. “the
good life”
Nature of lack feelings of “wholeness” i.e. devaluation of self

maladjustment
defensiveness i.e. maintains rather than enhances his/her life, lives
according to a preconceived plan, feels manipulated rather than
free, and is common and conforming rather than creative
 humanistic • a positive approach to psychotherapy that focuses on a
approach to person’s individual nature, rather than categorizing groups
of people with similar characteristics as having the same
counseling/ problems;

therapy • Humanistic therapy looks at the whole person, not only

from the therapist’s view but from the viewpoint of
define individuals observing their own behavior;

• The emphasis is on a person’s positive traits and

behaviors, and the ability to use their personal instincts to
find wisdom, growth, healing, and fulfillment within
themselves.
 Humanistic therapy is a talk therapy that encompasses
Therapist a gestalt approach, exploring how a person feels in the
here and now, rather than trying to identify past events
role in that led to these feelings.

Humanistic the humanistic therapist provides an atmosphere of

Counseling support, empathy, and trust that allows the individual to
share their feelings without fear of judgment.

The therapist does not act as an authority figure; rather,

the relationship between client and the therapist is one
of equals.
Humanistic approach
to therapy/counseling
Case study
Q-sort method
Unstructured interview
Open-ended questionnaires
Qualitative research
The existential theory in counseling
REFLECTIVE EXERCISE 2…
to be or not to be… challenges to my own existence

sad
resentful
challenging

what keeps me going????

Existential • Existential therapy is a unique form of psychotherapy
that looks to explore difficulties from a philosophical
counseling/therapy perspective. Focusing on the human condition as a
whole, existential therapy highlights our capacities and
define encourages us to take responsibility for our successes.

• Emotional and psychological difficulties are viewed as

inner conflict caused by an individual's confrontation with
the givens of existence. Rather than delve into the past,
the existential approach looks at the here and now,
exploring the human condition as a whole and what it
means for an individual.
Nature of human
The broad tenets of existentialism can include uncertainty, an awareness
of the absence of defined structure in life but with an acknowledgement
of personal accountability and responsibility.

dilemma
- Counsellor Geoff Butler

Existential therapy assumes the belief that people's problems come from
not exercising choice and judgment enough--or well enough--to forge
meaning in their lives, and that each individual is responsible for making
meaning out of life. Inner conflict stems from an individual's confrontation
with the given of existence which can be based on freedom and
responsibility, existential isolation, meaninglessness, death.
 Role of existential
counselor/therapist
• help facilitate an individual's own encounter with themselves
and to work alongside them as they explore values, assumptions
and ideals. An existential therapist will avoid any form of
judgement and instead help the individual speak from their own
perspective.

• The therapist should enter sessions with an open mind and be

ready to question their own biases and assumptions. The goal of
the therapist is to understand the individual's assumptions with
a clarity that the individual themselves may not be able to
muster.
How existential counselling could help
• One of the primary aims of existential
therapy is to help people
face anxieties of life and to embrace
the freedom of choice humans have,
taking full responsibility for these
choices as they do so.

• Existential therapists look to help

individuals live more authentically
and to be less concerned with
superficiality. They also encourage
clients to take ownership of their
lives, to find meaning and to live fully
in the present.