Existential Therapy - Assignment Example

Existential Therapy Existential Therapy Existential Therapy - An Overview Existential Therapy is the form of psycho therapy that takes into consideration both human potential and human limitations. In that sense it is optimistic and at the same time realistic in its approach while taking the human condition seriously. Existential therapy uses the feeling of loneliness of human beings to make them take charge of their life and make choices of their own so that no one else can be blamed when the result of the choice is not desired or given credit when the effect of the choice is highly satisfactory. The feeling of loneliness is overcome by creating one's own values and meanings. The therapy focuses on four themes, they are; Death Freedom and Responsibility Isolation Meaninglessness These four themes are considered central to the human experience. According to Dr. Louis Hoffman, there are two different approaches to the therapy, the spiritual approach and the non spiritual or atheistic approach (Existential Therapy, http://www.existential-therapy.com/General_Overview.htm). In the spiritual approach, a transcendent answer to the four themes is believed to exist. In the atheistic approach, it is believed that there is no answer to the four major questions. Death One thing that is for certain for a human being is death. There is no denying it. But one cannot move forward in life if the person if afraid of death. The awareness of a person's life being limited by death can cause anxiety. But ignoring the presence of death in a person's lives will not help either. One will have to use the knowledge of the limitation of life to the best advantage for succeeding in life. Dr. Hoffman states that a person who finds the balance between the awareness of death and finding strength not to get overcome by it will have better chance of leading a fulfilling life (Existential Therapy, http://www.existential-therapy.com/General_Overview.htm). Freedom and Responsibility Freedom and Responsibility always come together. When people try to enjoy their freedom while ignoring their responsibilities, chances are that psychological consequences like depression, anger and anxiety starts to occur. Every person is free to choose their path in life, but at the same time he or she should take full responsibility of the outcome. One should never blame another human being for anything that happens in life. This also means that one should never let any belief or organization take charge of their lives. Also one should have the awareness that he or she is not powerless in any situation, either natural calamities, or diseases, or oppression, that he or she is responsible for themselves and the predicament there are currently in. Isolation Throughout one's life, a person is involved in different relations with all the people around him. In doing that the person might try to have a hold in the other person's life. But one needs to realize that human beings are essentially alone in this world. One needs to find validation from within, not from others. This awareness will make one live life more to the fullest than live thoughtlessly (Existential Therapy, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existential_therapy). Meaninglessness The human life can be described as a journey to find the meaning of life or a journey to create a meaning for life. When one thinks about the human life in terms of the isolation it faces, it might appear meaningless to stay alive. It is now that the urgency of creating one's own values and find or create own meanings for life becomes apparent. This will give the person a feeling of significance and will make the person strong enough to uphold the newly found meaning through life. The Therapy Existential Therapy when applied to real life situation can be viewed from four different angle, they are; the view of man, the goals of therapy, the role of the therapist and the role of the client. The view of man Man being a social animal longs to connect with others and might try to find meaning in other people's lives and expect other people to have meaning in his life. But at some point of time, he will come to realize that he is fundamentally alone in this world and that he has to find meaning and validation for his life from within, not from others. This awareness of loneliness will make the life look meaningless to continue, until the person finds the meaning and purpose of life. A person might get tempted to live life thoughtlessly, enjoying the freedom that comes from the awareness that one is alone in this world and can choose whatever happens to him. But many people will find it easier not to make any choices that will make them solely responsible for what happens to them. Coming to terms with the presence of death in one's life too can be a difficult experience for most people. A person will find leading a healthy life difficult if he or she is extremely afraid of death or if he or she is leading a life completely oblivious to the presence of death (Existential Therapy, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existential_therapy). This fear of death, the freedom, the isolation, the meaninglessness etc might make a person unable to lead a healthy and happy life. It is then that Existential therapy can make a difference in a person's life. Goal of the therapy The goal of the therapy is to make a person take advantage of the loneliness, isolation, meaninglessness and fear of death one faces in one's life to create one's own values and meanings in life. Thus with a purpose in life, the person will be able to use the isolation to create meaning in life, thus take full charge of one's life and be come responsible for whatever happens. The ultimate goal of Existential therapy is to make a person understand the significance of one's loneliness and the presence of death in one's life in a way to choose for themselves the way their life should proceed without being influenced by any external factors and find a meaning and purpose in life to live a healthy and happy life. Role of the Therapist An Existential Therapist helps a person in accepting the feelings of loneliness, meaninglessness etc as a significant part of life. He or she helps a client feel free to make choices in life without being influenced by any factors like the client's upbringing, his current situation etc. The therapist helps the person confront his or her anxieties. The therapist will help the client reflect on their feelings of loneliness, meaninglessness etc. It is the therapist's role to make the client understand that there is nothing wrong with anxieties and that the client themselves should find ways to cope with them. The therapist will be able to help the client discover different ways of coping and study the difficulties he or she might face in them. This in turn will help the client make original choices pertaining to his or her life (Existential Therapy, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existential_therapy). Thus the existential therapist will help the client take control of his or her life and become responsible for self. Role of the client The client, after making the important decision of seeking an Existential Therapist's help, should work along with the therapist to overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of leading a healthy and happy life. The client should let the therapist look into how life has turned out for him or her and why it turned out like that. The client might find it hard to come to terms with the anxieties that hound him, but he or she will have to give the therapist a chance to guide them in finding ways to cope with their anxieties. The client has to work with the therapist to find meaning in their lives. They have to use this meaning to move on with their lives with a positive outlook. They have to come to terms with the universal fact of Death. The client will have to understand during the therapy that he or she is free to make choices in life, but at the same time he or she will have to be solely responsible for whatever the outcome of the choices. The client will have to be willing to make changes in the way they look at life. Therapist will aid them all along the way to developing a positive outlook, but it is up to the client to make the necessary changes. The client will be the only person who decides what the changes ought to be. Once the changes have been decided upon, the client will have to be dedicated to the new way of life. The client will become a new person who is strong enough to face life's anxieties, especially the feeling of loneliness, and who enjoys the freedom to choose and be responsible for one's life. He or she won't be afraid of death anymore; the fact that life is limited will make the client live life to the fullest. References Existential Therapy. (14 September 2006). Existential Therapy. Retrieved October 27, 2006, from World Wide Web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existential_therapy Hoffman, Louis (2004). Existential Therapy. 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