Existential Therapy And Psychotherapy Analysis

Improved Essays
In his book, “theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy” by Gerald Corey, Corey discusses existential therapy. According to Corey, “Existential therapy is more a way of thinking, or an attitude about psychotherapy than a particular style of practicing psychotherapy” (Corey, p. 132, 2014). Corey later suggests that existential therapy can be considered a “philosophical approach” to counseling that influences therapeutic practice. Therefore, existential therapy is considered less of a model of therapy and more a more in-depth look into individual’s lives.
Personally, my faith guides my existential reasoning. I am on this earth in because the Lord created me, and nearly twenty-one years ago I was born into a loving family. Something that has always aided me in my life was the knowledge that I was not a mistake, the Lord created me with a distinct purpose in life. Whenever I would become scared as a child, I was comforted by the belief that I had
…show more content…
By helping clients to be self-aware, helping them understand that they have the ability to create their own future while also understanding their own mortality. Existential therapy focuses on the client-therapist relationship, which I believe is key in being able to help clients overcome certain obstacles in their lives. Existential therapy also focuses on the human condition and the predisposition to loneliness that everyone experiences. Existential therapists then attempt to guide their clients in understanding how to cope with their loneliness by finding s sense of meaning in their lives. Due to my personal beliefs, I believe that humans are undoubtedly born with certain emptiness that is designed to be filled by the Lord. Thus, I believe that existential therapy, with the addition of faith would be an incredibly beneficial tool when creating a counseling theory

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    An existential psychotherapist would begin like all other modalities of therapy; by building a therapeutic relationship with trust and respect so as to understand the subjective world of the client. Kimberly’s symptoms of isolation, meaningless, and lack of associated responsibility would be addressed by the therapist in a positive, non-directive fashion to help her face these anxiety causing issues. He would convey that there is balance to be sought in one’s life. That too little of one thing…

    • 221 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    1. Theory as Is Related to Presenting Problem. An Existential-Humanistic theory aligned with the CREAR-CE model approach will be used to argue to formulated the case of Sonny. In addition, a Person-Centered approach is used to initiate therapeutic rapport with Sonny. Regarding the Person-Centered approach three basic principles of the approach were followed: 1.…

    • 1981 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    This theory gives credit to those who find success and meaning for their lives regardless of the pain, guilt, and death that may plague them. If the search for meaning is successful, it can not only can lead to happiness but also gives a patient or person capability to live through such suffering. If there is no meaning to be found, it can lead people into lives filled with worthlessness and hopelessness as seen with those prisoners in the concentration camps who gave up on their lives and would eventually pass away. The “existential vacuum” comes into play here in a generation filled with depression, aggression, and addiction because there is a lack of purpose or work that then leads back to the vacuum of feelings of emptiness and worthlessness. However, Frankl states that depression and suicide are not only caused by the existential vacuum, but that a strong meaning orientation can help take strides towards prevention and a means of combating such issues.…

    • 1945 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The existentialist theory emphasizes choice and free will of a person and the individual will determine their own outcomes based on choice. Jean-Paul Sartre was a leading philosopher of existentialism and believed that there are no blueprints to one’s individual life. There is no purpose rather than to find their own purpose and build upon it. We are a product of our choices and we are who we choose to be. We determine our fate which determines our freedom.…

    • 1043 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    The film Beetlejuice (1988) proves to be a whirlwind of events involving numerous characters with diverse personality types. The main characters are a couple, the Maitlands, who are killed in a car accident. They are stuck as ghosts in their home, when a new family – not to their liking – arrives. The Deetzes and the Maitlands struggle to accept the situation and their new cohabitation. Within the chaos of the movie, remains Lydia Deetz.…

    • 1998 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What is Epicurus’ argument against the fear of death? How does it work? What theory of personal identity does it presuppose? What is a reason to doubt the argument? Epicurus is a materialist.…

    • 1245 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In the novel The Stranger, the author Albert Camus emphasizes the absurdities of life and he does this by striking the audience with Meursault’s blunt nature and his embodiment of existentialism. The novel explores existentialist ideology which represent the philosophy of life essentially being “pointless” .Since the message of existentialism can have a powerful negative connotation it can be surprising to understand how Meursault can be considered anything close to free especially , considering the freedom he gained happened after he committed murder but that’s what happened considering the sequence of events , since his routine hindered him from the enlightenment he gained from being captured. The Webster dictionary defines freedom as “the power or right to act, speak,…

    • 1604 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Analysis Of Psychotherapy

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages

    As mentioned previously, the study of psychotherapy encompasses a variety of theoretical approaches. Each form of therapy borrows elements from each other, while building upon new ideas and techniques to call their own. Psychotherapy is described as “A collaborative treatment based on the relationship between an individual and a psychologist. Grounded in dialogue, it provides a supportive environment that allows [the client] to talk openly with someone who’s objective, neutral, and nonjudgmental” (“Understanding Psychotherapy,” n.d.). Psychotherapy assists people in modifying their emotions, cognitions, and behaviors.…

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Gift of Therapy by Irvin D. Yalcom, M.D., is an insightful book about therapy from the counselors view. He takes you through real-life cases and gives suggestions on how to be or become a better counselor. The four ultimate concerns with existence (death, isolation, meaning of life, and freedom) are addressed throughout the chapters. While using an interpersonal framework with his groups, he works off of the assumption that his patients have an inability to sustain meaningful interpersonal relationships in their life. On the other hand, he uses existential therapy with individuals that he works with. With individuals, he assumes that his patients fall into a deep despair as they are confronted with the harsh facts of the human condition.…

    • 1161 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Existentialism has many underlying concepts involved which highlights what was mentioned above. From allaboutphilosiphy.org, existentialism is “A person is best when struggling against their individual nature, fighting for life and decisions are not without stress and consequences.”…

    • 787 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Along with the freedom of choice comes the responsibility of one’s actions which can make make people anxious but give others meaning of their lives. Existentialism came into existence during World War 2. Many authors like Franz Kafka and Albert…

    • 1230 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The existential approach is highly useful in work with culturally diverse clients because of its focus is on the common ground that we all. As it can be the existential approach can be effectively applied with diverse individuals with a wide range of specific problems and different settings. The person centered approach useful for group counseling because it is all about respect the values of each member and this approach brings people from diverse cultures together. Cognitive behavior therapy is culturally sensitive because all the group members will incorporate their belief systems as part of the self-exploring method. It is the leader’s role to accommodate cultural diversity because it can have a profound aspect on each member of the group (Corey,…

    • 1601 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Psychotherapy Video: Existential-Humanistic Psychotherapy The video Existential-Humanistic Psychotherapy in Action, Part 1& Part 2 are two videos that are collected in the series “Psychotherapy With The Experts 2”. In these two videos, Dr. James F. Bugental conducts two separate psychotherapy sessions with a same client who encounters stressful life events. In order to assist this client in coping with her stress in a positive way, Dr. Bugental applies the existential-humanistic approach throughout these two psychotherapy sessions.…

    • 2307 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Existentialism is a philosophical approach which emphasizes on the existence of an individual person as “a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will,” meaning that everyone has the freedom to develop how they want to as a person. This serves as a good explanation for evil in the world and is also a freeing belief when one feels confronted by questions of existence. This may also help those that suffer from existential depression, a condition which occurs to people that harbour a sense of hopelessness at believing that their lives may be meaningless. One can live with this easily in everyday life, because it is simply a way of looking at life. Though it serves as a philosophy to live life how one chooses, Existentialism is flawed in the fact that it covers very little else, and offers no help practical and psychological problems.…

    • 1353 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Laura, is a forty-seven year old female, who is seeking therapy. Laura’s doctor recently referred her for treatment of depression. During Laura’s first session, she revealed that she is currently living with her common-law partner, of 15 years. She admitted to having a good relationship with her partner, however, stated that she keeps her distance and has trouble sharing her feelings with him. In addition, Laura acknowledged that she infrequently discloses private woes, and vexations with her partner and her friends, in fear that she will be seen as a “complainer”.…

    • 450 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays