The Existential Approach To

Group

NUR MARDHIAH BINTI MOHD RASHID

MPP191064

Lecturer : PM Dr Faizah Binti Abdul Ghani

Course : MPPB 1123
 Irvin Yalom (1931 - )
• Was born of parents who immigrated from
Russia shortly after WW1
• Significant contemporary existential therapist in US
• Developed his approach to individual and group
psychotherapy that deal with the basic “givens of
existence”

“givens of existence”  Isolation and relationship with

others, death and living fully, meaninglessness and
meaning
Four Given of Existence by
Yalom

1.Freedom and Responsibility

2.Existential Isolation
3.Meaninglessness
4.Death
“We are free and therefore responsible
for our choice and actions.”
Four Essential aims of existential-humanistic therapy :
1.To help client become more present to themselves
and others;
2.To assist client in identifying ways they block
themselves from fuller presence;
3.To challenge people to assume responsibility for
designing their present life;
4.To encourage individuals to choose more expanded
way of being in their daily life
• The therapist’s basic task is to encourage clients to
consider what they are most serious about so they can
pursue a direction in life.
• An existential group therapist accept the premise that
clients must play an active role in the therapeutic
process and that they have the capacity to make well-
informed choices about living.
• Group members create their own purpose in the group,
and clients preferences, beliefs, motivation, and
expectations significantly influence outcomes (Bohart
& Wade, 2013)
The purpose of an Existential
Group
In an Existential group participants make a commitment to a
lifelong journey of self exploration with these goal ;
1.Enabling members to become truthful with themselves.
2.Widening their perspectives on themselves and the world
around them
3.Clarifying what gives meaning to their present and future life
4.Successfully negotiating and coming to the term with past,
present, and future crises
5.Understanding themselves and others better and learning
better ways of communicating with others
Key Concept
Role & Function of the Group
Leader
1. Assist client in addressing their concerns.
2. Genuine, demonstrates empathy and able to be therapeutically
present.
3. Reinforce the role of client as an active learner and problem solver
who contributes to the therapy process and outcome.
4. To foster meaningful relationships among participants by having
member focus on key existential concerns.
5. Group leader as fellow travelers in the sense that they must come
to terms with the ultimate existential concerns of life.
6. Encouraging members to assess ways their freedom may be
restricted, reflect on how they might increase their choices and
assume responsibility for their choices,
Therapeutic Techniques and
Procedure
• No “right” techniques in this approach.
• The task is accomplished through the therapeutic
encounter and dialogue between client and
therapist.
• Emphasis on understanding and exploring the client
subjective reality rather than diagnosis, treatment
and prognosis
Therapeutic Techniques and
Procedure
Deurzen (2010)
Strengths
•Empowerment of individuals.
•Emphasis on meaning, responsibility and living a finite
life fully will become increasingly important.
•Focus on spirituality and meaning in life.

Limitation
•Existential therapy can be difficult for clients who expect
a structured and problem-oriented approach instead of
discussion of philosophical questions.
 Limitation

• Existential therapy can be difficult for clients who

expect a structured and problem-oriented
approach instead of discussion of philosophical
questions.
The Effectiveness of Existential Group Therapy on Social and Emotional
Adjustment in Women with Dependent Personality Disorder1
The Effectiveness of Existential Group Therapy on Social and Emotional
Adjustment in Women with Dependent Personality Disorder
The Effectiveness of Existential Group Therapy on Social and Emotional
Adjustment in Women with Dependent Personality Disorder
The Effectiveness of Existential Group Therapy on Social and Emotional
Adjustment in Women with Dependent Personality Disorder
The Effectiveness of Existential Group Therapy on Social and Emotional
Adjustment in Women with Dependent Personality Disorder
Video of Existential Therapy Group
Counseling - Session 1
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghrmeUTN3x0
Thank You