THEORY IN BRIEF: EXISTENTIALISM

BASIC PREMISES AND PHILOSOPHY:  Philosophy is concerned with the meaning of life.  Nothing would exist if people were not here to see it, i.e. the self cannot exist without a world and the world cannot exist without a person to perceive it.  Ethical, spiritual and moral matters are considered as essential aspects of being human, rather than as by-products of biological forces.

FOUNDERS OR IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTORS:  Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Carl Rogers, Victor Frankl, Rollo May, Abraham Maslow, Erich Fromm

COUNSELING GOALS:  Clients view the world as valid through their own perspective, in relation to others and the world, and embrace free will, recognizing their natural desire to improve and rise above difficulties. 

ROLE OF COUNSELOR:  Approach clients with empathy, understanding and unconditional positive regard encouraging self-disclosure and trust.  Encourages self-knowledge through experience, addressing ethics, morals, and value of clients.  Encourages realization of goals through reflections of others and promotes devotion and service to combat loneliness and anxiety.

ROLE OF CLIENT:  Learn to relate and trust therapist, opening up their minds to the notion of free will, the essential goodness of humans, and the necessity of struggle for self-development.  Ability to deal with ambiguity and discuss abstract concepts at length.  Willingness to be self directed.  Learn to trust and value self.

USEFUL WITH WHAT POPULATIONS AND TYPES OF PROBLEMS?  Best used with clients who are verbally proficient, educated and literate.  Clients must have desire and ability to discuss philosophical ideas and rise above black and white thinking.  Limited use with some adolescents and younger population.  It helps if clients are able to deal with ambiguity and are not just focused on goals and techniques to get there.  Especially effective with creative personalities.  Clients with acute trauma or little interest in insight are not good candidates.

EXAMPLES OF TECHNIQUES:  Rogerian Therapy, Logotherapy, Client Centered Techniques, Phenomenological/Non-deterministic approaches, Observation, Art/Dance/LiteratureTherapy, Self-Exploration.  

Mahrer’s approach:

1) Being in the moment; 

2) Integrating the felt experience into primary relationships; 

3) Making connections to the past; 

4) Integrating what was learned.

TERMS:  non-determinism, phenomenological, free-will, humanism, angst and dread, human potential movement, hierarchy of needs, deficiency of needs, dialectical tension, dialectical humanism, I-thou vs. I-it, peak experiences, organismic

 

SEE POSTS:  THEORIES IN BRIEF SERIES