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Existential therapy clinical themes
An analysis of the advantages and disadvantages existential therapy
An analysis of the advantages and disadvantages existential therapy
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Existential Therapy and Gestalt Therapy
The Existential Approach stands for respect for the person, for exploring new aspects of human behavior, and for divergent methods of understanding people (Corey, 2013). Existentialists do not focus on instinctive drives or internalized others but on the person's unavoidable confrontation with the givens of the human condition. Yalom (1980) described those givens as death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness. (Bauman, & Waldo, 1998).
Existential therapy is concerned with one’s being; the world in which they live, the implication of time, and the mindfulness of being whole. The basic dimensions of the human condition, according to the existential approach, include (1) the capacity for self-awareness; (2) freedom and responsibility; (3) creating one’s identity and establishing meaningful relationships with other; (4) the search for meaning, purpose, values, and goals; (5) anxiety as a condition of living; and (6) awareness of death and nonbeing. All give significance to living and explore the degree to which a client is doing the things they value.
Gestalt therapy is existential, phenomenological, and process-based approach created on the premise that individuals must be understood in the context of their ongoing relationship with the environment. Awareness, choice and responsibility are the cornerstone of practice (Corey, 2013).
There is little difference between Existential and Gestalt therapy. Both focus on the here and now; and concentrate on what and how clients can learn about they way they are living their lives. Existential therapy sees the client as the center of his or her own world; Gestalt pays attention to the client and their relationship with the environment.
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... didn’t love it, upon returning she dreads reporting back to work. Her job in Iraq was nonstop in a combat environment, and although all of her unit returned home safely, many of her actions were judged and questioned. She feels like she has lost herself can’t figure out how to move forward in a positive, happy direction, essentially she is stuck. Daisy’s father was not a nice person and it as no secret he did not lover her or her mother and criticized everything they did. Her mother did the best she could but always put herself first when it came to protecting against her father. Gestalt theory doesn’t focus on the why, it focuses on the how. Finding out how Daisy is thinking, feeling, what her behavior is, along with bringing up her memories will help her understand what is happening right now and lead her in a direction for positive choices and fulfillment.
Gestalt therapy and cognitive therapy have different views on what constitutes individual variability and health, and different views on therapeutic methodology. Cognitive therapy are aiming at modifying thoughts and behavior in order to make these more adaptive and self supporting. Gestalt therapy is aiming a creating, expanding and focusing awareness on the here and now (Corey,
We may nevertheless say that existentialism is a form of phenomenological philosophy that relies on certain reflective methods of studying human consciousness instantiated in the individual, society, and culture, which emerged as a popular general movement characteristic of 20 century European thought represented thought represented across many disciplines including literature, the humanities, and the social sciences. Existential psychology rejects the mechanistic views of the Freudians and instead sees people as engaged in a search for meaning (Trull & Prinstein, 2013, p. 382), therefore an existential psychotherapist may attribute the cause of the person’s anxiety to lost meaning of life. As Trull and Prinstein (2013) stated, the ultimate goal of existential psychotherapy is "to help the individual reach a point at which awareness and decision making can be exercised responsibly" (p. 383). The role of an existential psychotherapist is to enable the client to come closer to experience. By experiencing self, the client can learn to attach meaning and value to life. Sometimes the therapist will confront the client with questions “that force the client to examine the reasons for failure to search for meaning in life” (Trull & Prinstein, 2013, p.
The clinicians that use the approach of the humanistic-existential model believe that to function properly, humans, throughout their lives, have a need to develop perceptions and beliefs about oneself and to accept and value their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors regardless of the consequences (Comer, 2016, pg. 58). Humanists argue that people are born good and over the course of their lives, they seek to fulfill their potential known as self-actualization (Comer, 2016, pg. 58). Existentialists believe that human comes to this world with the ability and freedom to choose their destiny and give purpose to their lives (Comer, 2016, pg. 58). From both perspectives, practitioners consider abnormality to be rooted in childhood as a result of
Existential therapy through the eyes of Dr. Yalom is very fascinating. There is never a fixed life that each person is supposed to live. In his therapy the clients are allowed to find out for themselves what it is they need by receiving adequate questioning from Dr. Yalom. His questioning guides them down the existential path to freedom and responsibility.
Gestalt therapy is a type of therapy used to deepen our awareness of ourselves. According to O’Connor and Braverman, (2009) “Gestalt" implies wholeness. “Gestalt therapy is a process-oriented, experiential therapy that is concerned with the integrated functioning of all aspects of the person: senses, body, emotions and intellect.”
Existentialism is a very broad topic with no exact definition, and it has been interpreted in many different ways by various philosophers. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, existentialism is defined as “a chiefly 20th century philosophical movement embracing diverse doctrines but centering on analysis of individual existence in an unfathomable universe and the plight of the individual who must assume ultimate responsibility for acts of free will without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong or good or bad”. Existentialism has influenced many authors works and lives, such as the novelist Hermann Hesse. A particular work by Hesse that was heavily influenced by his existentialist beliefs was his book, Steppenwolf. Steppenwolf
Existentialism is the epitome of the unknown. There is no straightforward explanation of what exactly it is, there is only certain characteristics and behaviors that describe existentialist views. Throughout today’s world, there are examples of it everywhere, it’s found in movies, books, songs, and just people in general. Existentialists are known to think and do for themselves only. They believe that to understand what it means to be human requires understanding of themselves first. Some very well known pieces of entertainment existentialism is found in are: Hamlet by William Shakespeare, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Stranger by Albert Camus, and The Breakfast Club by John Hughes. The Stranger is a book written about a young man whose mother dies, which soon leads him to becoming acquainted with the feeling of not caring about what his actions do to others or himself. The main character Meursault starts helping his friend Raymond, carry out ways to torment his mistress. Out of nowhere while at the beach, Meursault shoots Raymond’s mistress’s brother. He is thrown into jail and tried, but he seems to not be affected as much as he should about his actions. He first finds it hard to live without cigarettes, women, and nature, but he soon finds out he doesn’t need any of those. After being sentenced to death, he is suggested to turn away from his atheism but later realizes that human existence has no greater meaning. This realization and acceptance is what truly makes him happy (Camus). Next, The Breakfast Club is a very relatable movie about high school students suffering the consequences of their actions in detention. The kids are all of ...
In existentialism one’s mind and body are ultimately free, they have nothing controlling their actions; that freedom is in the way one communicates, one’s actions, one’s choices, one’s
Existential Therapy was chosen to assist Bonnie with her Issues. Existential therapy is a more effective approach because it deals with concrete issues. The theory focuses on the attitudes of individuals and important life themes. This type of therapy help individuals cope with everyday issues by understanding oneself, taking responsibility for oneself, and finding meaning in life. Existential therapy would be a great approach to address Bonnie’s depression, and anxiety symptoms, which stems from low self-esteem. The existential approach will help Bonnie with her depression by recognizing that she is depressed and accepting her feelings. Once, the depression is recognized than therapy will assist Bonnie with her anxiety by confronting unexpected events. Lastly, existential therapy will help Bonne with her self-esteem by finding meaning in life and becoming more self-aware.
In existential the focus is on assisting individuals on becoming authors of their own lives with the philosophical framework of what it means to be human. Psychodrama allows individuals to explore problems through role play to develop new behavioral skills. Gestalt therapy warrants the here-and-now, bringing unfinished business to the present, allowing individuals to deal with those problems now. Person-centered approach concentrates on self-exploration, learning to accept one’s self, and determining avenues to take to change. Collectively, I found the most valuable and meaningful aspects of experiential and relationship oriented approaches to be self-exploration and bringing unfinished business to the present to help individuals deal with those problems
Existential therapy is a technique that brings awareness to the power of our choices. “This existential approach has opened the way for a more agentic view of human nature and has taken into consideration some of the most fundamental concerns of humanity, which were previously underappreciated in the field of psychology” (Bartz, 2009, p.70). It has been shown to be successful in a variety of groups. Some of these groups are; children, people who have been adopted, incarcerated youth, and victims or culprits of abuse. One doesn’t have to only use one theory or approach during their practice. When it comes to existential therapy, the person using the approach can adapt their interventions to fit their style and personality. At the end of the day, it’s about what will work for the
I am choosing to write about gestalt therapy. Gestalt’s founding theorists were Frederick (Fritz) S. Perls and Laura Posner Perls. In 1952 Fritz and Laura and other associates established the New York Institute for Gestalt Therapy. Gestalt theory is an existential, phenomenological and process-based theory made on the basis that people must be understood in the setting of their ongoing relationships with their atmosphere. Awareness, choice, and responsibility are the base fundamentals of the theory. Contemporary gestalt therapy is sometimes called relational gestalt therapy which stresses a dialogue and relationship between a client and a therapist must be had. Fritz is often seen in one of two ways, either people are in awe of him or find him tough and aggressively confrontational. Today’s gestalt therapists seek to be more supportive, accepting, respectful, dialogical, and empathic and challenging (Corey, 2013).
The first article for review by Viktor Frankl, an existential psychologist, Logotherapy and Existentialism, was written in 1967. Existentialism approach emphasizes the individual as being responsible for their actions and destiny by way of exercising
Fritz and Laura Perls are responsible for the founding of gestalt therapy in the 1940’s. From there on, Gestalt has contributed significantly to the field of psychotherapy, counseling, and personal development. When therapist uses this method, his or her ultimate aim is to ensure the client achieves personal growth and development. To achieve this outcome, gestalt utilizes existential philosophy and phenomenology. In summary, this form of therapy aims to empower the patient to use his internal and external senses for the purposes of developing personal responsibility and a self-supportive system (Franzke 1999; Corcoran & Daly 2008).