" When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves."
-- Viktor Frankl
" Depression is the inability to construct a future."
-- Rollo May
" When people don't have any curiosity about themselves, that is always a bad sign."
-- Irvin Yalom
Existential Therapy
Basic Principles
The seedling principles of existential psychology can be traced back to the philosophical posturings of Aristotle, Socrates, ancient Greek thinkers, ancient Asian philosophers, and many others who pondered the the idea of human existence and the meaning of life.
Today, Eastern practices such as Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism are beginning to influence existential psychology. Central elements to both eastern and western traditions involve concepts important to the human condition, such as; awareness, impermanence, and experience of aloneness. All of this brings us to the very core of Existential Psychotherapy... an endeavor to answer personal and collective questions like; what is the meaning of life and death? How can I help my fellow man? How do I balance happiness and sadness, good and bad, or freedom and responsibility? Many people struggle to ask these questions, and struggle even harder to come to terms with the answers. |
Theoretical concepts:
Existential therapy focuses less on the actual treatment process, and more on the exploration of the universal issues that humans deal with in life. In the world of existentialism, life has no inherent meaning and is consistently full of challenges. A major goal for clinicians is to help clients confront these challenges so that emotional development does not become blocked. Typically there are four universal concerns for the human condition which are at the root of emotional disturbances.
UNIVERSAL ISSUES of the HUMAN CONDITION:
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Source:
Seligman, L., & Reichenberg, L. (2014). Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy (4th ed., pp. 40-110). Pearson Publishing.
Seligman, L., & Reichenberg, L. (2014). Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy (4th ed., pp. 40-110). Pearson Publishing.