Existential Therapy: What you need to know about it

A Quick Guide

Existential Therapy is a humanistic approach that focuses on personal growth and self-awareness. It helps individuals explore the deeper questions of life, such as the meaning of existence, free will, and death, to gain insight and make positive changes. The therapy emphasizes personal responsibility and aims to help clients find purpose and live authentically. Techniques used include empathic reflection, Socratic questioning, and active listening.

What is existential therapy?

Existential Therapy is an approach that focuses on who you are as a human being. It does not try to fix your past. But it helps you learn from your past, and the actions that led to that specific outcome so you can shift your goals. It emphasizes your potential capabilities as a person and your limitations as well. 

The practitioners of this approach often emphasize that

• Self-awareness exists in everyone.
• Every person possesses a unique identity that is known in their interpersonal relationships.
• People must constantly change as life changes.
• Anxiety is a part of life. 

How does it work?

Existential Therapy focuses on the intrapsychic conflict a person feels when faced with the bigger questions about the reality of life. There are 4 elements that can fill a person with anxiety. It is also known as existential anxiety. It can have long-term negative consequences on a person’s physical, social, spiritual, and psychological awareness. These 4 elements are as follows:

1. Free will and Associated responsibility
2. Meaninglessness 
3. Isolation 
4. Death

For instance, we know that this world will come to an end. While our lives are meager compared to how long this world has been here. We will all eventually die. That is the ultimate truth. But this is a truth that can cause massive anxiety because it is difficult to accept. 

So at times, we try to escape the truth by simply reducing our awareness of that element. Being in denial, we can not make the correct decisions that enrich our lives. 

On the other hand,  for those of us who cannot get past these truths. We obsess over them which can eventually lead to psychosis. 

Existential Therapy can help you to maintain a balance. So you would not be in complete denial but you wouldn’t be obsessive over it either. This can really benefit you in leading your life to the fullest. 

Who can benefit from it?

If you are willing to delve deep into your intrapsychic conflict and identify which actions lead to your current outcomes. Then existential Therapy can prove to be quite beneficial for you. 

Moreover, there are quite a few other mental health disorders that can be treated by existential therapy.

1. Addiction: Substance abuse 
2. Anxiety 
3. Depression
4. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
5. Psychosis 
6. Identity Crisis 

Existential Therapy mostly focuses on helping you understand that it is ultimately you, who are responsible for your recovery. Once you are in this mindset, then you are able to move past the limitations of therapy sessions and fully commit to your healing process.

Some Techniques

While an existential therapist doesn’t necessarily employ predetermined specific techniques. There is one method that stays the same which is the phenomenological method. It basically involves the therapist being present, engaged, and free of expectations. This can help in comprehending and interpreting your life experiences. Some other techniques used are:

1. Empathic reflection: This is when your therapist acknowledges your emotions and your own emotions during the event.
2. Socratic Questioning: This is when your therapist will ask in-depth questions about your beliefs whether rational or irrational. 
3. Active listening: This is when your therapist completely listens to you, asks questions for better understanding, and then repeats your words to ensure no misunderstandings.

As this is more of a client-centered therapeutic approach, your therapist may continue to change these techniques according to your needs. 

We hope you found this article useful in understanding existential therapy, how it works, who can benefit from it, and some techniques used in it. 

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