Existential Therapy, Essay Example

Abstract

The existential therapy is an overview of existential theory that provides a theoretical basis used for mental health counseling. The existential approach emphasizes on the freedom of individuals in choosing what they make out of their circumstances. It calls for individual choices while considering their role in the community and family.

Historical Context

The existential philosophical thinking has no single specific root but rather influenced by many individuals and writers in the 19^th century. The most pointed out philosophers who were the major players in the development of existentialism in accordance to (Cooper 2003) include Soren Kierkegaard and Fredrick Nietzsche. The work of Kierkegaard is seen as a precursor to existentialism although he did not describe himself as an existentialist. Existential philosophical principals have been articulated by other philosophers. The works of Husserl, Vaitinger, Startle and Pascal popularized the existential perspectives.

Major Contributors to the Existential Theory

Different figures contributed to early existential psychology movement. They helped in the development and promotion of the existential theory. They include Rollo May, James Bugental and Viktor Frankl. Rollo may is considered as the father of American existential psychology. In his book, the meaning of anxiety, he reclaims anxiety as being the integral part of being human and goes further to make distinctions between an existential and neurotic anxiety. James Bugental was greatly influenced by May and through this influence he was able to develop an existential humanistic approach to the therapy. His video tapes and writings illustrated how existential therapy looks like.    Viktor Frankl on the other hand made an incredible contribution to the existential theory. His experience in the concentration camps made him to write the book, Man’s Search for Meaning, which made significant contributions to the existential theory. According to Frankl, it is meaning that is able to sustain individuals through life’s challenges and tragedies.

Key Concepts of Existential Theory

The existential movement bases therapeutic practices on the understanding of human nature. Being a human mean that being in a position of discovering and making sense of one’s existence. The existential approach demonstrates the basic dimensions of human condition which includes freedom and responsibility, self awareness capacity, creation of one’s own identity and making meaningful relationship with others, anxiety as a condition necessary for living, the search for purpose, values, meaning and goals, and being aware of nonbeing and death (Gerald 2008). The capability of one’s self awareness helps in one’s reflection and make of choices.

People are free to make choices hence have the main role of shaping their destinies. Existential anxiety is necessary for growth stimulation since it enables one to make decisions that help in reconstruction of life. To the existentialists, death is not viewed negatively but instead should be a basic human condition that gives life a meaning. Inevitability of death is a human characteristic and therefore should not be considered as a threat.

Evaluation of Existential Theory from a religious perspective

Soren Kierkegaard was religiously devoted and his writings were on the meaning of Christianity and were based on religious faith. In his existentialist view, “religious faith was irrational and was attainable only by subjective experiential ‘leap of faith’. Virtues such as honesty, commitment and responsibility are subjective choices in religious conversion” (Marino 2004).

Freidrich Nietzsche in contrast to Kierkegaard had a negative feeling about Christianity. To him “God is dead” and that religion used resentment and fear in pressurizing individuals into moral behavior. The existentialists are either staunchly atheistic or spiritually oriented. To some the belief in God and opposition to God is a primary pathway to a deeper understanding to the true nature of self. This seem to be an appropriate outcome of the existential struggle since for existential practitioners, regardless of their religious orientation, the overarching goal of therapy is to help the client in discovering and exploring the authentic self.

References

Cooper M. (2003). Existential Therapies: Using Evidence for Policy and Practice. London, SAGE.

Frankl V. E. (1963). Man’s Search for Meaning:  An Introduction to Logotherapy.  New York:  Washington Square Press.

Gerald C. (2008). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy. New York: Wadsworth Publishers.

Marino, G. (2004). Basic Writings of Existentialism. Chicago: Modern Library Press.