Krislyn Antonellis March 13, 2017

EXISTENTIAL THERAPY
We Are What We Choose To Be

Theory
• More of a way of thinking

• An attitude about
psychotherapy

• A philosophical approach

• No specific techniques

Founders
• Not founded by one person
or group Nature of Persons
Existential Therapy embraces human potential while recognizing
• Influenced by many
philosophers human limitation. Looking at the here and now, Existential
Therapists believe we are free and responsible for our choices and
• Soren Kierkegaard, actions; we are the authors of our lives.
Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin
Heidegger, Martin Buber, The basic dimensions of the human condition:
Ludwig Binswanger,
Medard Boss, Jean-Paul 1.The capacity for self-awareness- freedom, choice, responsibility
Satre
2.Freedom and responsibility- free to choose among alternatives
• Key figures in Contemporary
3.Striving for identity and relationship to others- create a self that
Existential Therapy
has meaning
• Viktor Frankl, Rollo May,
Irvin Yalom, James 4.The search for meaning- challenge the meaning in their lives
Bugental
5.Anxiety as a condition of living- unavoidable result of being
Logotherapy confronted with the "givens of existence" (death, freedom,
choice, isolation, meaninglessness)
Viktor Frankl- therapy through
6.Awareness of death and nonbeing- death provides the
meaning- life has meaning
motivation for us to appreciate the present moment

Existential Therapy 1
Krislyn Antonellis March 13, 2017

Role of the Counselor Model of Mental Health

• Do not focus on client's past
• Work with client to discover
and explore their choices
• Invite client to accept
responsibility
Clients are encouraged to find meaning and purpose in their lives.
The emphasis of therapy is not on past events, though the past is
taken into consideration in order to understand its implications.
Existential therapy believes that you are not defined by your
history, that you are not destined to have a certain future, which
offers liberation and promotes freedom.

• Help clients reclaim and reown

their lives

• "Create your own authentic

Model of Emotional
way of being attuned to your
clients" Disturbance
References Clients with restricted existence have a limited awareness of
themselves and are not very clear on the nature of their problems.
• Corey, G. (2013). Theory and Because of this, they see few options in dealing with life situations
Practice of Counseling and and feel stuck.
Psychotherapy (9th Ed.)
Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. Existential therapy works well for clients interested in self-
examination, clients with concerns about issues of living, and
• Existential Psychotherapy. clients who are terminally ill, struggling with anxiety, depression,
(n.d.). Retrieved March 11, substance dependency, post traumatic stress, or facing transitions.
2017, from http://
www.goodtherapy.org/learn-
about-therapy/types/
existential-psychotherapy Counseling Process
• Existential therapy. (n.d.).
Clients are encouraged to address the emotional issues they face
Retrieved March 11, 2017,
through full engagement. They are expected to take responsibility
from http://www.counselling-
for their decisions and are given skills necessary to accept and
directory.org.uk/existential
overcome their fears through actions.
• Existential Therapy. (n.d.).
Through therapy, clients will gain control of the direction of their
Retrieved March 11, 2017,
lives, designing their own life's course and embracing it, as well as
from http://www.existential-
existing in it. Life is a journey, in which the client is the author.
therapy.com/

• Existential Therapy. (n.d.).

Retrieved March 11, 2017, "The meaning of life, is to give life meaning."
from https://
www.pinterest.com/ Viktor Frankl
sallykuhlenschm/existential-
therapy/
Existential Therapy 2