Existential Therapy explores your challenges through a philosophical perspective, aimed at examining the question of human existence. This approach emphasises that we each have the responsibility and freedom to make choices in how we live.
Existential Therapy focuses on themes such as meaning making, personal freedom and choice, maturation and “adulting”, and loneliness and isolation. It might not be comfortable to think about death and isolation, but Existential approaches suggest that thinking about these themes are necessary to live authentic lives.
Existential Therapy is based on the premise that we are not victims of circumstance, because we can choose our actions. Some of the main ideas of Existentialism are:
We are responsible for our actions and choices
Meaning is subjective
Anxiety is a normal part of life
Death is a significant and natural part of human existence
Existential Therapy is a conversational approach, where neither the therapist nor the client are absolute experts. This approach may not be recommended if you prefer a more direct, teaching-style of counselling. Those working with existential questions need to be willing to explore heavier themes in life, such as death, purpose and the purpose of life.
Existential Therapy History
In the 1800s, the philosophers Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche turned their thoughts towards the meaning of life, given the suffering they saw around them. Kierkegaard focused on the roles of anxiety, guilt, and wisdom of living a good life. While Nietzsche focused on the importance of death, personal will, and responsibility in living well.
Existential thinking is also found throughout ancient Greek philosophy going as far back as Socrates (from 469 to 399 BCE).
In modern time, Irvin Yalom popularised the exploration of existential themes in individual and group counselling sessions. Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychotherapist was another central figure in bringing Existential Therapy into the mainstream. Frankl taught the meaning in life is subjective and meaning making is necessary to move through core challenges.
Existential Goals
Existential Therapy helps you to recognise how your choices can create a more fulfilling life and explore what it means to be alive. Sessions focus on examining your unfulfilled needs and potentials, and how to make rational choices. Research has shown this form of therapy can help to significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression (Rayner & Vitali, 2015).
