Existential Therapy Flashcards
what is the contribution of victor frankl?
Founder of logotherapy; Halocaust survivor, writer, philospher, author of 40 books
What is the contribution of Rolly May?
Major figure who brought existentialism from Europe to the US;
Psychotherapy should be focused on problems of BEING not problem solving
What are some main beliefs of the existential therapy?
- Rejects typical psychoanalysis
- Believes that every person has a health core belief
- Reacts against idea of therapy and set techniques and bases practice on an understanding of what it means to be human
- Focuses on choices
What are the 6 propositions about the human condition in existential therapy?
- Striving for a relationship and others
- Anxiety as a condition for living
- The capacity for self awareness increases
- Freedom and responsibility
- The search for meaning
- awareness of death and nonbeing
How problems/distress develop according to existential therapy?
A state of inauthenticity
Anxiety (normal/ existential vs. neurotic)
Confrontation of four ultimate concerns
what are The four ultimate concerns?
Freedom
Death
Meaninglessness
Isolation
How does change occur according to the existential therapy?
Change occurs through three main phases
- Clients are assisted in clarifying and identifying their assumption about the world
- Rapport and relationship are key
- Clients are assisted in more fully examining the source and authority of their present value system
- Get a better sense of what they think is a life worth living and develop a clearer sense of their internal valuing system
- Clients are assisted in translating what they’ve learnt into meaningful act
- Action happens here - departure from psychodynamic
What are goals of the existential therapy?
Helping clients accept their freedom and responsibility to act
Assisting people in coming to terms with the crises in their life
Encouraging clients to recognize the ways in which they are not living fully authentic lives
Inviting clients to become more honest with themselves
Broadening clients awareness with their choices
Facilitating the clients search for meaning and purpose in their life
Assisting clients in clients in developing a deep understanding of themselves and the ways they can effectively communicate with others
What are the roles of the therapist?
No uniform rules
The therapeutic relationship is key
Core of the therapeutic relationship
- Authenticity
- Confront clients honestly
To understand the subjective world of the client and help the client come to new understandings and options
To find meaning
what are the Roles of the client?
Responsibility for how they are choosing to be in their world at the present moment
Active–during the sessions, must decide which fears, guilt, feelings, and anxiety they want to explore
Confront ultimate concerns, rather than coping with immediate problems
The focus is on removing roadblocks to meaningful living
How do therapeutic techniques look like in the existential therapy?
There is a general DEemphasis on specific techniques
- Paradoxical intention
- Dereflection
- Socratic questions
- Writing your own eulogy
The therapeutic relationship is the most effective and powerful technique
What are the pros of existential therapy?
- Humanizes therapy
- Provides a perspective on basic human condition
- Relevant in multicultural contexts
What are the cons of existential therapy?
Concepts are abstract and ambiguous
Lacks empirical backing
Limited applicability to:
- Lower-functioning
- Clients concerned about basic needs
Highly focused on self-determinism and may ignore other factors (e.g., systematic oppression)
