Existential therapy

Question 1

Theory of change

Answer 1

Change occurs through finding philosophical meaning in the face of anxiety by choosing to think and act authentically and responsibly the court question address and existential therapy is “how do I exist?” in the face of uncertainty conflict and death

Question 2

Role of the therapist

Answer 2

Provide an encounter with a “real” other; presence of the therapist is essential; help the client focus on personal responsibility for making decisions

Question 3

Treatment goals

Answer 3

Client discovers their own life meaning; client confronts anxiety inherent and living; client experiences agency responsibility construction of their life.

Question 4

Key concepts

Answer 4

All persons have the capacity for self-awareness.
As free beings, everyone must accept the responsibility that comes with freedom.
Each person has a unique identity that can only be known through relationships
Each person must continually recreate themselves. The meaning of life and existence is never fixed; rather, it constantly changes.
Anxiety is part of the human condition.
Death is a basic human condition that gives significance to life.

Question 5

Interventions

Answer 5

Focus on moment moment process rather than on explicit content

Question 6

Interventions: Holding

Answer 6

Refers to a process of holding up to the problem experience so it may be seen, remembered, and experienced by the client

Question 7

Interventions: Empathetic availability

Answer 7

Empathetic availability is a committed presence to the other and openness to the pain and potentials of the other even when such openness is difficult and unpleasant

Question 8

Interventions

Answer 8

Telling, talking about, and naming emotional pain places the emotional experience into the world of mutual encounter, where the relationships between client and practitioner can be used to process the situation with increase support.

Question 9

Interventions: mastering the emotional pain

Answer 9

Mastering the emotional pain is the process of reflection and behavioral experimentation that helps the client discover unique healing activities that are useful in processing and diffusing the problem situation.

Question 10

Interventions: honoring the pain

Answer 10

Honoring the pain refers to the process of celebrating the meaning of potentials and opportunities in the problems situation that the client actual lies and makes real.