Existential Therapy

Man who as a physical being is always turned toward the outside, thinking that his happiness lies outside him, finally turns inward and discovers that the source is within him.
-Soren Kierkegaard

There are many men who shaped the philosopy of and the therapy of Existentialism. The forefathers of the philosphy include such men as Soren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, Martin Buber, Ludwig Binswanger, Medard Boss, and Jean-Paul Satre. The Key figures of the modern concepts of Existential Psychotherapy are Viktor Frankl, Rollo may, Irvin Yalom, and James Bugental.

Viktor Frankl

Rollo May

Irvin Yalom

James Bugental 

The goals of therapy are to teach clients to see that they are free to take charge of their lives, that they are responsible for what happens to them, and to see what is blocking them from being free.

The key concepts of Existential therapy are to get people to look within themselves and see that they are the masters of their own fate and their life circumstances. Therapy helps people look for the mean, learn about being alone and with others, and coping with life and death.

There are really no specific techniques to this therapy, since it is more about self discovery and understanding before technique. Clients are guided to address the ying and the yang of core life concepts, such as freedom and responsibility, life and death, meaning and meaninglessness, and being alone and being in relationship with others. Testing and diagnosis are not important.

Reference

Corey, G. (2009). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy. Belmont, C.: Brooks/Cole,

Cengage Learning.