Key Concepts of Existential Therapy

Overview

Existential therapy is a meditative, humanistic method of mental healthcare, which assists individuals in the process of examining meaning, purpose, and individual responsibility in their lives. This model of therapy does not just treat the symptoms, it answers deeper questions that frequently motivate emotional distress: Who am I? Why am I here? So, how can I establish a meaningful life in spite of suffering? With the help of these questions, individuals are able to learn and know more about themselves and make empowered decisions to suit their values.

What is Existential Therapy?

Existential therapy is a type of both philosophical and psychological psychotherapy. It focuses on self-knowledge, free will, accountability and meaning-seeking. This school of thought was influenced by authors like Viktor Frankl and Irvin Yalom, and it takes anxiety, depression and emotional torment as natural reactions to the uncertainties of life instead of conditions that need to be fixed.

Rather than describing the experience as being solely pathological, the existential therapy model prompts the clients to deal with deep-seated human issues, such as death, freedom, isolation, and meaning. What is not aimed at is to relieve the discomfort completely but to make individuals connect with it in more healthier and more authentic ways.

Why Existential Therapy Matters in Mental Health Care

In the contemporary busy society where everyone is in a hurry to accomplish their set goals, most individuals are disconnected, overwhelmed, or confused on their path in life. Existential therapy is important as it counters these distresses on their sources. It understands that emotional pain usually occurs when people are trapped, feel powerless, or disassociated to their values.

This is particularly the case with individuals who are going through transition events in life, in identity, or are grieving, chronically sick or just feel empty. Existential therapy encourages long-term emotional development and resilience by means of personal meaning, as opposed to symptom suppression alone.

How Existential Therapy Works in Practice

Existential therapy is normally reflective and conversational. Sessions are based on open communication between the therapist and the client discussing thoughts, emotions, beliefs and life events. Therapists do not present themselves as the ones possessing all the answers but they are there as facilitators to assist the clients to unearth some things on their own.

Some of the common practices are the exploration of personal values, a study of the patterns of avoidance and how clients can get stuck or disconnected with their true selves. Clients are advised to embrace individual freedom and responsibility even in challenging situations and make decisions that are congruent with their true selves.

Benefits of Existential Therapy

Existential therapy has the following emotional and psychological advantages:

• Increased self-awareness: Clients are able to see better their beliefs and motivations and their emotional reactions.

• Better management of anxiety and depression: Clients tend to be less intimidated by anxiety because of having the knowledge that it is a human experience.

• Greater feeling of purposefulness and meaning: Therapy makes people rediscover what is really important to them.

• Empowerment, personal responsibility: Clients get acquainted with the fact that they are free to design their lives, even in difficult situations.

• Improved emotional stability: Direct exposure to the uncertainty in life is a potential confidence-cum-strength-giver.
  

  
  

Conclusion

Existential therapy is a form of mental health care that is compassionate and depth-oriented, and goes beyond symptom management. Exploring meaning, freedom, and responsibility, people will be able to be more authentic to themselves and the surrounding world. This method makes us remember that as much as suffering is being humans, so is the ability to develop, to make a choice, and to have a purpose.

Whenever you or someone close to you are in need of significant and customized mental health services, Palm Coast Treatment Solutions is ready to assist you. Our skilled staff members offer caring care that is specific to your experience.

Call (386) 284-4151 today to get to know more about our therapy opportunities and make the first step towards permanent emotional stability.