What Is Existential Therapy?
Life is full of questions. Sometimes you wonder what the meaning of life is and why you are here in the first place. Existential therapy helps put a lot of focus on the human condition as a whole.
It relies on a positive approach that applauds human aspirations and capabilities. It also acknowledges that human beings have limitations. This therapy approach has several similarities to humanistic therapy, emphasizing the good in human beings. The theory behind existential therapy helps you explore life’s difficulties from a philosophical perspective.
The bottom line of this therapy approach is to encourage you to take responsibility for your success. It suggests that your source of inner conflict is the confrontation you have with the issues of life. Instead of looking back into your past, you should look at the here and now. Try to get meaning out of any given situation as a whole. In doing so, you can end the fear of the unknown that grips you way too often.
Freedom and responsibility. According to this approach, you are free to choose among many alternatives. If you're always in the habit of blaming other people for your problems, a therapist using this approach will help you see things from a different perspective. They'll make you recognize how your actions led you to the situation you're in and how you let others decide for you.
Awareness of death. Existential therapy proposes that the thought of death motivates you to live your life fully. It pushes you to take advantage of every opportunity you have to create something meaningful.
Isolation is part of life. This theory suggests that you live in a state of social isolation — your life is devoid of social relationships with other people, and you live alone. Learn to listen to yourself and to respect your decisions. Decide how to live with yourself and be firm about it.
The search for meaning. Therapists who use this approach encourage you to ask yourself what you want from life. When you're committed to creating, loving, building, and working, meaning in life will come as a by-product of this engagement.
How Does Existential Therapy Work?
The concept of existential therapy aims to help you have a wide perspective on life. This will increase your self-awareness and increase the potential choices you have in life. It also aims to teach you to take responsibility for your actions and options and to experience authentic existence.
This therapy is not technique-oriented. Instead, the interventions are based on philosophical views about human existence. It also applies when you’re dealing with developmental crises or physical limitations due to age. Existential therapy is an approach that targets the underlying factors that cause internal conflict within you. This is why it is so unique and highly effective.
Things to remember
We are partially responsible for everythings that happens to us. This means
we can change our life conditions in anytime.
Decision making is important but there are also infinite alternatives.
Living life meaningfully and enjoying quality time even when we are alone is important to maintain happiness.
Source: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-existential-therapy
What are your thoughts on existential psychology?
#Psychology #Philosophy #TherapeuticApproach
@calmDew1576
Yes! I love philosophical approaches like this.
I find them so interesting!
Existential therapy sounds like it can be very beneficial for some!
Thanks for sharing Dew. <3💛✨
@innateJoy9602b Thank you for reading! Yes it can be very interesting. Therapists use to combine it with other methods but I believe it is important to practice it as most of our problems are internal at the end of the day. <3
@calmDew1576
Love my existential crisis' and thoughts at nights. Honestly it's fascinating to think about and it really gives you a perspective that forces you to think "larger than life". Other than myself what can I do to make a lasting impact? What does my time here mean? Coming up with these big answers within your mind may be intimidating but can be huge assurances down the line.
@sunnyWriting4806 That's so true. What's interesting about what you said is that there is a whole philosopy behind thinking is the proof of existing. Dum spiro spero in Latin means "I think, so I exist". Thinking about existance is the most ancient form of philosophy. Thank you for your reply!
