Dr. Keshen feels that the reason for this is that most of the literature that is available on the subject is extremely convoluted. Even the foremost authors on the subject disagree on it verities making most existential psychotherapists' ideas heterogeneous. However, the author feel that if a more precise and well-defined model of existential psychotherapy could be developed that would be amenable to some kind of empirical validation it may be more accepted by the psychotherapeutic community. The author's purpose for this article is to crate a more clinically oriented version of existential psychology and crate a template for a "manualized" approach into the field of existential psychotherapy.
The author goes on to explore the main principles of existential psychotherapy and create an excellent diagram to exampling the overall components of the process (this is reproduced in the appendix). The main tenant of existential psychology is that all human beings have a will to purpose, a sense of engagement that give their live meaning. However, if this will to purpose remains unfulfilled for too long, an existential vacuum or void in their lives develops which may in turn become an existential neurosis (see the diagram in the appendix). This dilemma makes the patient engage in actions such as defense mechanisms to fill this void. Many are often demeaning and self-destructive such as addictive disorder, social anxiety some type of narcissism and replacement factors such as a workaholic syndrome. These are purpose substitutes because they are substitutes for activities that give authentic purpose.
The author attempt to quantify Authentic Purpose with the following definitions:
Authentic Purpose (AP) is derived from anything that one has a genuine love or interest in (as long as it does not compromise others or self). Authentic Purpose has some core similarities to the concept of "authenticity" (Bugental, 1987; Heidegger, 1962; Sartre, 1958) but is less philosophically loaded and abstract; thus, it is more...
Psychotherapy Skills in Existential Counselling and Psychotherapy by Martin Adams and Emmy Van Deurzen is the first book that can be considered as the first convenient and matter-of-fact introduction to an Existential approach that is skills-based. Those who are not acquainted with philosophy can easily access this boos as it provides several genuine and substantial skills, tasks and connections required in Existential practice. The book is an actual guide for enabling
Psychotherapy Psychology is a science that engages the mind of a person in understanding the behavior of the individual. The human behavior, particularly, is peculiar at times when confronted with certain situations or events. Consequently, like any other body system, the mind is subject to reactions to external influence that impair its normal functioning. This constitutes the basis for a need to develop a technique of treatment; that curbs these health
Psychotherapies If Rape were legal This is a story about a cancer patient who objectifies women and his life changes drastically for the better after his therapist takes an aggressive stance in one of the personal therapy sessions after a disturbing incident in his group therapy session. This paper reviews the relationship between the patient and the therapist by analyzing their dynamic through the following psychotherapies: Dynamic, Person-Centered, REBT and Alderian. Dynamic Psychodynamic psychologists
Psychotherapy Theories and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy The cognitive behavioral and person-centered approaches regarding counseling and psychotherapy come from a much different developmental history and theoretical underpinnings. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a psychological approach that addresses problematic behaviors that occur from the recurrence of bad thoughts and has shown useful to treat anxiety, depression, and substance abuse disorders among others. However, there are also many psychotherapy practices that can integrated
The instillation and the maintaining of hope is one of the most important factors in any type of psychotherapy (Yalom 2005). Yalom (2005) notes that hope is needed to keep the patient going to therapy in order for the other factors to take place, and "faith in treatment mode can in itself be therapeutically effective" (2005). Yalom (2005) compares the importance of the instillation of hope to the efficacy of
3). Many Jungians believe that in order to facilitate a patient with access to their unconscious and thus advance the individuation process, they themselves must access their own depths when treating a patient. This entails being aware of emotions, memories, symbols, and dreams that come out when treating a patient. This will often shed light on something of the patient's experience and the exclusive relationship created between therapist and patient.
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now