Existential Therapy

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Who:   Viktor Frankl - responsible for making Existential therapy popular in Europe and bringing it to the United States. He developed therapy through meaning.

Rollo May – the key figure in bringing this therapy to the United States

Irvin Yalom – developed individual and group therapy where existential therapy was popular

·         Goals of Approach

o   This therapy builds on the basics concerning the human condition and how shaping your

o   own life is a responsibility and you have the freedom to do so. Self-determination and the right choices will enable you to shape your own existence. This therapy is also considered therapeutic because it focuses on person to person relationships

o   .

·         Key Concepts

o   The key concept would be focusing on the present and with self-awareness, you zero in on what you are becoming.

o    This therapy is an experimental approach to counseling but you need to concentrate on self-awareness before taking action.

The capacity for self-awareness

Freedom and Responsibility

Striving for Identity and Relationships to others

The search for meaning

Anxiety as a Condition of living

Techniques

Technique is not as important in this type of therapy as getting the client to understand the issues and addressing them.

1.      First help them become aware of the issues and get them to understand that with freedom comes great responsibility.

2.      Guide them towards finding their identity and the how to develop relationships with others.

3.      Get them to search for purpose to their lives.

4.      Help them to work through anxieties which comes from the responsibility of making their own choices

Person Centered Therapy

Who:    Carl Rogers developed a person centered therapy in the 1940’s that gets the client that gets the client to decide what he needs to do. Rogers let the clients know he accepted them just like they are. He encouraged them and let them know they have what it takes to make their own decisions. Rogers found that clients would change when the therapist was empathetic, genuine and conveyed non possessive warmth.

Natalie Rogers (Carl’s daughter) furthered his therapy by adding in expressive arts which expands the client centered therapy. Those techniques involved writing journals, using music to express feelings, visual art, sounds and creative movement.

Goals of Approach

            The goal is to get the client to explore their feelings.

            Learn to trust themselves.

            To unblock thoughts and feelings they had been denying.

            Experience life to the fullest.

Have a life that is more open.

Direct their own steps.

Key Concepts

            To help the client give attention to the present

            Give them encouragement and accept them as they are

            Help them realize they have the ability to choose their own direction.

The ability to handle issues as they arrive.

The counselor creates a safe and healing climate.

Express their feelings and decipher the difference between what they are and what they

want to be.

Healing begins with self and this causes growth.

Techniques Used

            Techniques used were the stages of change

1.      Precontemplation Stage – no intention of changing client’s behavior immediately.

2.      Contemplation Stage – client is aware of problem but no commitment to take action yet.

3.      Preparation Stage – prepare to take action immediately.

4.      Action Stage – in the process of taking measures to change or modify behavior. Changing behavior to solve problems.

5.      Maintenance Stage – client works to maintain the progress they’ve made and do what’s necessary to not backslide into old habits and problems.

Links;

Claessens, M. (2009). Existential analysis. Journal of the society for the existential analysis, 20(1), 109-119.

Bozarth, J. D. (1985). Quantum theory and the person centered approach. Journal of counseling and development, 64(3), 179.