Victor Frankl, Rollo May, Irvin Yalom, James Bugental, and Clemmont Vontress
Existential therapy focuses on philosophical concepts that focus of living in the present, being responsible for creating a meaningful life, and realizing the ultimately that life ends (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014).
Concepts
Ultimate concerns of the human condition
Inevitability of Death
Isolation
Meaninglessness
Freedom and Responsibility
Existential and Neurotic Anxiety-results when we "lack awareness of our physical world, our relationships, and or psychological world; fail to take responsibility for making our lives meaningful and worthwhile; and realize that we have not become what we might have" (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014, p. 182).
Human Development and Development of Emotional difficulties- stem from the failure to deal with the human condition
Dasein-concept of conscious awareness of the world. Existential therapists recognize different ways that people can be present in the world in four different dimensions.
Umwelt: the natural world
Mitwelt: the social world
Eigenwelt: their own subjective world
Uberwelt: spiritual world
Existential therapy is an optimistic approach and recognizes the following strengths in people
Awareness
Authenticity
Freedom and Responsibility
Actualization
Making Meaning
Ultimate concerns of the human condition
Inevitability of Death
Isolation
Meaninglessness
Freedom and Responsibility
Existential and Neurotic Anxiety-results when we "lack awareness of our physical world, our relationships, and or psychological world; fail to take responsibility for making our lives meaningful and worthwhile; and realize that we have not become what we might have" (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014, p. 182).
Human Development and Development of Emotional difficulties- stem from the failure to deal with the human condition
Dasein-concept of conscious awareness of the world. Existential therapists recognize different ways that people can be present in the world in four different dimensions.
Umwelt: the natural world
Mitwelt: the social world
Eigenwelt: their own subjective world
Uberwelt: spiritual world
Existential therapy is an optimistic approach and recognizes the following strengths in people
Awareness
Authenticity
Freedom and Responsibility
Actualization
Making Meaning
Intervention and Techniques
Use of person and client/clinician relationship, with a focus on philosophical issues
Goals- to help clients to confront fears and anxiety
Symbolic growth experience- learning and making meaning though exploration of intense past experience
Paradoxical intention-therapy involving clients doing the things they fear the most in order to break the fear pattern.
Dereflection-focusing more on others and goals instead of on self.
Use of person and client/clinician relationship, with a focus on philosophical issues
Goals- to help clients to confront fears and anxiety
Symbolic growth experience- learning and making meaning though exploration of intense past experience
Paradoxical intention-therapy involving clients doing the things they fear the most in order to break the fear pattern.
Dereflection-focusing more on others and goals instead of on self.