Existential Therapy : A Matter Of Choices Essay

Based on my past experience and a review of this week’s reading, I believe the theories that best fit with my personal philosophies are the Person-centered therapy and Existential therapy. As Experiential and Relationship-Oriented Therapies, these theories share some key concepts that really fit with how I see my role in the therapeutic relationship and what I believe about personal power and change.

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 often defined as a philosophical movement that emphasizes individual existence, freedom and choice. Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes a few main points, such as the freedom to choose and how the choices you make should be made without the assistance of another person or standard. From the existentialist point of view, you must accept the risk and responsibility of your choices and follow the act and result to wherever it takes the individual. Someone that is put in a certain situation understands it far more than someone looking in on that same situation; one commonly used situation that appears often in existentialist works is

The philosophy of existentialism is based primarily on a single question. One that asks the meaning of life or if there was some set path that individuals must follow. In the past, the answer to this would lie within religion, but as the human race continued to learn about the world, it became apparent that religion held little truth in terms of explanation. Since then, to philosopher’s dismay, there has been no definite answer to replace religion, nor will there ever be one. Instead, the concept of existentialism dawned on philosophers and scholars alike.

Existential therapy through the eyes of Dr. Yalom is very fascinating. There is never a fixed life that each person is supposed to live. In his therapy the clients are allowed to find out for themselves what it is they need by receiving adequate questioning from Dr. Yalom. His questioning guides them down the existential path to freedom and responsibility.

63). The existential therapy approach, is for Tony to take responsibility for his own decisions and increase self-awareness to live an authentic lifestyle so he can get rid of his loneliness (Corey, 2012, p. 139). The adlerian therapy, psychoanalytic therapy, and existential therapy therapy will give Tony a better understanding on how to solve these core struggles and have a sense of direction. We can always change. Humans are born with unique abilities, innate drive to strive for perfection, completion and wholeness.

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

Existential group counseling approach the major advantage is that we are free and responsible for the choices and actions we have as an individual. It also is a process of exploring, values, and beliefs that gives us meaning to life. Existential group counseling allows individuals to face up to their problems in life with courage rather than avoiding life struggles. Existential therapy relates to deep self-reflection and some individuals may not be able to connect with the process. Individuals who seek a more direct approach will probably benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy. Existential therapy is a non-direct approach and the group leader works to be present to understand each client’s moment by moment experience. The existential approach

Existential therapy has brought about the change of thinking about the world around us in a different perspective. It also has to do with tolerating the principle that our actions are inadequate by external circumstances, the existentialist position rejects the notion that our acts are single-minded. In this are a range of choices accessible to each of us and we are free to choose and therefore responsible for our own choices and actions. We must form and live with our own individual freedom to the fullest. This paper will explore some of those concepts from Existential therapy and I will answer such questions like what does personal freedom to look for myself. There are a multiple other questions I will touch on in this paper and really explain in detail about what Existential therapy entails. Now that we know where this paper is headed, let’s first look at what personal freedom means to me.

In the contemporary, there are numerous approaches to the counselling and therapy. One of the currently popular ones are the existential and the cognitive-behavioural therapies. This essay will compare and contrast the existential and cognitive-behavioural approaches to understanding and working with fear and sadness. Firstly, their history. Secondly, their perceptions on the fear and sadness. Thirdly, their approach to the diagnosis. Then, the therapeutic relation in them. And finally, the processes of therapy of fear and sadness. Throughout the comparison, I will indicate which of the approaches I am more drawn to and why.

Existentialist ideas are brought into the therapeutic process as hermeneutics; the methods of interpretation of personal meanings which enable the therapist to better understand the client’s issues in living.R By working through a multiple of universal aspects of what it is to be human a client is helped to seek new ways of living.

Pleased to offer a report analyzing Charles Van Doren’s case from the Existential Therapy perspective. Existential psychotherapy emphasizes that individual’s confrontation with “existence” causes mental health problems. Irvin Yalom (existential therapist) recognizes four “givens of existence” or ultimate human issues that all people struggle with: freedom and responsibility; isolation; meaninglessness; and death. The goal of existential therapy is to assist the client in their exploration of the existential “givens of life.” This approach of psychotherapy believes that all humans are capable of doing both good and evil. On the other hand, individuals need to be the authors of their lives in order to be an authentic self, consequently, reflecting on the kind of person they want to be by taking responsibility.

Existential theory is only one of many different theories in psychology. This paper will work to help give the reader a better understanding of what Existential theory is, what the common factor accountability is and how the common factor accountability works within the existential theory to help a client and/or therapist gain a better understanding of the choices, thoughts, or behaviors that helped get a client into the position they are in and how holding themselves accountable to their actions, behaviors or thoughts can help them reach healthy attainable goals in their life. In this paper the reader will gain a better understanding about how existential theory looks at the whole person and how they reached the point where they needed to seek assistance in understanding themselves and how they can hold them self and how others can hold them accountable for their actions, thought, and behaviors.

Yalom main focused has been in the interpersonal nature of relationship with the counselor and client. Often, this therapeutic relationship appears to comprise what’s maybe happening in the client’s world outside of therapy. Furthermore, the intrapersonal relationship, within each individual in relationship with the other is primary bases on what it is happening. Most existential therapists despite their differences, agree that it is the interpersonal nature, or the relationship, among therapist and the clients that encourage the healing conditions. Yalom suggests that therapists could create and adapt a new therapy approach for each client. Thru, an effective existential therapist highly tuned, and carefully cultivated via

According to Yalom and Josselson (2011), Existential psychotherapy needs no manual or a specific structure that guides each and every act of a therapist. The main focus of this therapy is on the nature of individuals, and the various emotional and psychological issues they face like anxiety, grief, loneliness, isolation etc. in the process of ‘making meaning’ in their respective lives (as cited in Corey, 2011 ).