Existential Psychotherapy Is Based Upon The Fundamental Belief

A phenomenological focus in existential counselling relates to the degree in which a therapist attempts to stay with the lived experiences of the client (Spinelli, 1989). The phenomenological method, as explained by Spinelli (1989), has a foundation of three main rules to guide the therapist. The first rule of ‘epoche’, recommends putting aside any prejudices and biases, as well as expectations or pre-conceived judgements that may arise when interacting with a client (Spinelli, 1989). This often requires the use of bracketing. Spinelli, highlights that completely bracketing perspectives is impossible (Cooper, 2003), However, the main factor relates to a willingness to bracket perspectives. For example, in the “Love’s Executioner”, Yalom (2012, p. 3) describes having disbelief that his client of seventy years could be in love but attempts to bracket this thought by maintaining objectivity throughout the encounter. The second rule called description, involves a focus on description over explanation (Cooper, 2003). Therapists are recommended to avoid theories and explanations of the experience, instead making a focus of staying with the lived experience as it actually is (Spinelli, 1989). For example, in “The Wrong One Died”, Yalom (2012, p. 90) avoids an explanation of what his clients dream means, in favour of asking the client to describe the feelings that arose throughout the

Existential therapy would focus on each person as a unique individual as well as their decisions that have shaped their lives. Responsibility would be patient to would take responsibility for their decisions to create the present and future they desired. The existentialists’ is more attentive to internal details that will help the client to find philosophical meaning despite bouts of anxiety, opt to reason and act genuinely and mindfully despite life’s four guarantees, or “givens” of freedom (of choice), isolation, meaninglessness and, ultimately death. (Yalom, 1980). Only through authentic living, free will, and accepting responsibility will humanity be able to draw motivation from these existential conditions. Assuming the belief that people's problems come not exercising to the full extent one’s judgment or free will--or well enough--to forge meaning in their lives and that each of us has the responsibility for making meaning out of life. Outside forces, however, may underwrite "the individual's limited ability to exercise choice and live a meaningful life. "

My top five theories are Gestalt, Reality, Person Centered, Existential and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Within these five theories my top five aspects that I would like to incorporate into my own personal model of counseling is as follows: 1.) From Gestalt therapy I would incorporate staying with the feeling and use experiments along with internal dialogue exercises (Corey, 2013). The aspect of getting to the root of unfinished business in regards to impasse is appealing in regards to this theory as well as the idea that it moves the client to a place where they are more confident asking for help (Corey, 2013) 2.) From the Reality Therapy approach I would incorporate the WDEP technique (Corey, 2013). I feel that it is of the most importance to recognize what one wants from his or her life and to be able to verbalize and have an action based, planned path that moves one towards the goal (Corey, 2013). 3.) From the Person Centered Approach I would incorporate genuineness, unconditional positive regard and accurate empathic understanding (Corey, 2013). In regards to the therapeutic process when working with people in crisis I believe this model is most effective (Corey, 2013). 4.) From an Existential Therapy approach I would incorporate the aspect of guiding the client to a place of awareness. I believe being aware of why one is not living their life fully is very important to moving a person toward making choices that will get them to a life that is more authentic to who

Psychotherapy and counselling are inseparable. The effectiveness of a counselling program is not just based on the connectedness and interaction between a therapist and a client, but also the framework of the counselling approach in helping the client improving his mental health or overcoming personal problems. There are an extensive number of psychotherapies developed by past researchers, with each therapeutic concept offering unique contributions in understanding human behaviour and useful implications for counselling practice (Bedi et al., 2011).

This document will explore the fundamental principles that confirm the importance of Frankl’s, Existential Theory and Logotherapy.

Existential psychotherapy is a dynamic, philosophical approach to therapy that is based on the premise that an individual’s conflict within is due to their concerns with the givens of existence (Yalom, 1980). These givens, or ultimate concerns as noted by Yalom (1980), are inescapable properties that are part of the human existence in the world: meaninglessness, freedom (and its associated responsibility), isolation, and the inevitability of death. Confrontation with these givens can result in existential anxiety (Corey, 2009).

Existentialism is a Humanism by Jean-Paul Sartre, was published in 1945 at the height of Existentialism's cultural resurgence. As Sartre states in his opening line, his purpose is to “offer a defence of existentialism against some charges that have been brought against it.” (Sartre, 1945) At a time where Existentialism was heavily associated with wearing black and smoking (Fahlenbrach, 2012) Sartre felt the need to draw attention to its philosophical and more meaningful aspects, beyond it simply being a passing trend. Sartre outlines, “Man is nothing else but that which he makes of himself. That is the first principle of existentialism” (Sartre, 1945) This is rooted in what Sartre believes to be the basis of all Existential

Gestalt therapy is derived from a combination of Psychoanalysis and Existentialism. This therapy aims and fostering self-awareness in a client in order to offer enhanced control over their daily lives by concentrating on the source of a person’s feelings and actions (Lecture 4, 2016). The Gestalt Therapy Page is sponsored by The Gestalt Journal Press and is constantly altered with more resources added. This website provides materials that are copyrighted, but are able to be downloaded for one’s personal use and reference. However, if one desires to distribute, whether electronically or printed, the resources and graphics, one must first acquire permission from The Gestalt Therapy Page.

"If we affirm life and live in the present as fully as possible, however, we will not be obsessed with the end of life"(Corey p.153). This is the way of thinking for the existential theorist when it comes to patients who deal with death anxiety. Dr. Yalom dealt with this issue when he did a study on bereavement. He put an ad in the

A key concept of existential therapy is the relationship between freedom and responsibility. In contrast

Throughout this semester, this class has been really hard on me as an individual. It has challenged me emotionally and has made me really think about my life. There have been times in class I just sit there and think is this really what I pictured my life to be like. I have many dreams to study abroad, move away after graduation, go somewhere warm with friends after graduation, or a dream job, but I always have things hold me back from perusing those dreams. Either financially or other things in my life. Throughout this semester, I have found myself having moments connecting with the therapist as he was talking to Stan. Which kind of scared me because I would think is there something wrong with me? Or why am I not doing that? Learning about the different theories, and techniques helped me better my life as an individual. Intro to counseling has taught me a lot. With being able to relate or connect to the different theories has helped me understand I do have a meaning in life. Throughout the rest of this paper, I will discuss in more detail about

For an approach to be labeled as existential, it is essential that the cultural, social, political, and ideological context be taken into account. Themes such as relationships, finding meaning, anxiety, suffering, and death are concerns that transcend the boundaries that separate cultures. Clients in existential therapy are encouraged to examine ways their present existence is being influenced by social and cultural factors (Corey,

There are many reasons why individuals are afraid of death: inability to take care of dependents, pain and sadness that loved ones will feel, or fear of the afterlife. But one of the most common reasons is the fear of nothingness and loss of self (Yalom, 1980). Death anxiety can manifest itself in many different ways (Yalom, 1980). One’s feeling of missing exciting events or the desire to control the surrounding world, demonstrate this manifestation. These unhealthy thoughts help individuals ease fear of death by dealing not with the real and terrifying source of anxiety, but indirectly, through more socially acceptable actions. Many people protect themselves from death anxiety by denying it. Yalom (1980) discussed two ways that accomplish this goal: the ultimate rescuer and personal specialness. Both ideas lead people to feel that they will not be affected by misfortune like others might be. The ultimate rescuer is a type of defense mechanism leading people to believe that someone will come into their life and save them from their problems. An example of this would be a person with severe financial problems needing money to take care of health problems believing that someone or something will bring the needed money and the situation will work itself out. Personal specialness involves the belief that one is in a way different from others and therefore immune from the hardships of life. Personal specialness

Cognitive-behavioural therapy or CBT is representative of the integration of behavioural therapy and cognitive therapy. It encourages the empowerment of an individual to be able to change how they think (cognitive) and how awareness of particular problematic patterns may impact upon our consequent responses (behaviour) (R ch7). Pivotal to our understanding of such mental health problems from a CBT perspective is Beck’s ‘Cognitive theory of emotion’. It purposes that events and situations are not responsible for emotional responses. Instead it is the ‘meanings’ we attach which reflect the complex interaction between an individual’s history, mood and the context of experience. These

“The existential theory is concerned for the personal "commitment" of this interesting existing unique in the "human circumstances”.