Understanding the Mechanics of Existential Therapy

While we may never uncover every answer, the journey to deeper self-awareness is always ongoing.

Every human shares two undeniable truths: birth and death. These universal experiences spark profound existential questions and quests for meaning that shape our lives and fuel countless reflective conversations.

Existential therapy delves into these core human dilemmas, offering a therapeutic environment where individuals can explore life's most profound philosophical issues safely and openly.

Expert Contributors

This article features insights from leading mental health professionals including:

• Kelli Collins, LMFT
• Nilou Esmaeilpour, Clinical Counselor
• Dr. Avigal Lev, Clinical Psychologist

Benefits and Applications of Existential Therapy

Existential therapy effectively supports individuals facing anxiety (including death-related fears), feelings of hopelessness, low self-worth, and more. As Kelli Collins, a licensed marriage and family therapist and regional clinical director at Two Chairs, explains, "Life's inherent uncertainty often triggers anxiety. Existential therapy helps us confront this uncertainty to uncover freedom and purpose."

Kelli Collins, LMFT, Regional Clinical Director at Two Chairs

"Existential therapy encourages confronting challenging realities like death, isolation, and meaninglessness, while striving to find personal significance despite these challenges."

Psychiatrist Irvin Yalom identified four primary existential concerns addressed in therapy:

• Freedom
• Isolation
• Meaninglessness
• Death

Research indicates existential therapy can enhance existential well-being, notably among cancer patients, though more studies are needed to fully validate its efficacy. Søren Kierkegaard, a 19th-century Danish philosopher and pioneer of existentialism, emphasized creating personal meaning rather than seeking it externally, such as through religion.

How Existential Therapy Functions

This therapeutic approach is grounded in several key principles:

1. Self-awareness is accessible to everyone.
2. Free will entails responsibility for one's choices.
3. Each person’s uniqueness requires interpersonal relationships for full understanding.
4. Life’s meaning is fluid and must be continuously redefined.
5. Anxiety is an inherent aspect of human existence.
6. Awareness of death imparts significance to life.

Rather than focusing on past experiences or symptom diagnosis, existential therapy prioritizes present and future experiences. Nilou Esmaeilpour, a registered clinical counselor at Lotus Therapy and Counselling Centre, notes the therapy emphasizes personal responsibility and free will throughout life’s journey.

Addressing the discomfort that freedom and responsibility can bring is central. Dr. Avigal Lev, a licensed clinical psychologist at Bay Area CBT Center, states, "We possess the freedom to choose our attitudes and define our lives, but with this freedom comes the responsibility to live authentically according to our values, which often leads to emotional pain."

Existential therapy also explores our relationships with others. Lev adds, "It helps individuals cope with existential isolation—the reality that we are born and die alone—while recognizing our interconnectedness and interdependence."

Avigal Lev, PsyD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist at Bay Area CBT Center

"This approach supports managing existential isolation by acknowledging our solitary beginnings and endings, alongside our social bonds."

Existential Therapy’s Place in Contemporary Psychology

Many mental health practitioners integrate existential therapy with other modalities. Collins explains, "Existential therapists often incorporate techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to address symptoms promptly. It pairs well with approaches focused on values and purpose, such as acceptance and commitment therapy."

However, Esmaeilpour highlights some limitations, including existential therapy's abstract nature and lack of structured protocols. It may not directly target specific mental health disorders or symptoms, which can be a drawback for those needing focused clinical intervention.

Why Existential Therapy Matters Today

In an era marked by separation and individualism, existential therapy offers vital support. Dr. Lev remarks, "Facing collective trauma and widespread disconnection, existential psychotherapy empowers people to find meaning in suffering and live purposefully aligned with their values. It fosters embracing our unique human condition, cultivating deeper fulfillment and connection."

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• Therapy

Sources:

1. Heidenreich T, Noyon A, Worrell M, Menzies R. Existential approaches and cognitive behavior therapy: challenges and potential. Int J Cogn Ther. 2021;14(1):209-234. doi:10.1007/s41811-020-00096-1
2. Terao, T., & Satoh, M. The Present State of Existential Interventions Within Palliative Care. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.811612
3. Gardiner, P. Nineteenth Century Philosophy. The Free Press, 1969.
4. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Brief Interventions and Brief Therapies for Substance Abuse. Brief Humanistic and Existential Therapies.

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