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Existential therapy techniques pdf


9 Powerful Existential Therapy Techniques for Your Sessions

While not easily defined, existential therapy builds on ideas taken from philosophy, helping clients to understand and clarify the life they would like to lead (Iacovou & Weixel-Dixon, 2015).

Although there is no single existential therapy, each approach shares the same basic principle that while life is fraught with dilemmas, we choose our values and whether and how we live by them (Adams, 2013).

This article introduces existential therapy before exploring how it is performed. We also provide helpful worksheets, questions, activities, and exercises to equip therapists for each session and support clients.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Meaning and Valued Living Exercises for free. These creative, science-based exercises will help you learn more about your values, motivations, and goals and give you the tools to inspire a sense of meaning in the lives of your clients, students, or employees.

This Article Contains:

  • How Does Existential Therapy Work?
  • Real-Life Example of a Treatment Plan
  • 4 Best Counseling Interventions & Techniques
  • 5 Activities & Exercises for Your Sessions
  • Helpful Worksheets to Give in Therapy
  • 4 Questions to Ask Your Clients
  • 3 Fascinating Books on the Topic
  • A Look at Our Meaning & Valued Living Masterclass
  • Resources From PositivePsychology.com
  • A Take-Home Message
  • References

How Does Existential Therapy Work?

“The existential therapist recognizes that we all face certain universal conditions and that the differences between us come down to how we choose to respond to these conditions” (Iacovou & Weixel-Dixon, 2015, p. 8).

Faced with the certainty of a life that will one day end, some of us try to deny the truth, while others tackle the reality head-on, living life to the fullest.

Existential therapy neither passes judgment nor applies pressure. It aims to uncover the client’s worldview and help them understand their values, beliefs, and attitudes. Once illuminated, the client is free to decide if their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are helping them live a life of meaning (Iacovou & Weixel-Dixon, 2015).

Instead of pathologizing the patient, existential therapists see their role as helping the client reflect on their freedom and clarify “their values and beliefs, and the attitude they take to their world” (Iacovou & Weixel-Dixon, 2015, p. 9).

How to use existential therapy for grief

Whether expected or not, the death of a loved one is a shock that we typically hope to get over in order to return to ‘normal’ life. However, we may need to accept that life may never be the same again; and yet, it can still be meaningful and fulfilling (Adams, 2013).

Existential therapists offer clients a safe and supportive space to talk about what finiteness means, for the person they have lost and for their own existence.

How to use existential therapy for depression

Feelings associated with depression can often arise from a sense that we lack the power to make life different. We are left feeling helpless and passive.

Existential therapy suggests that “depression is not something a person has – it is what they are, it is their way of defining their way of being-in-the-world” (Adams, 2013, p. 111). Therapy encourages the person with depression to take risks and reconnect with their world and their autonomy.

Real-Life Example of a Treatment Plan

The companion website to Skills in Existential Counselling and Psychotherapy (van Deurzen & Adams, 2016) provides valuable videos exploring putting existential theory into practice and turning essential concepts into treatment plans.

Iacovou and Weixel-Dixon (2015) describe the example of bereaved clients attending therapy, where treatment may follow a plan discussing these points:

  • Mortality
    Recognize that losing someone brings about questions regarding our own mortality.
  • Awareness of death
    Fostering an understanding that this is not a dress rehearsal; there is only one chance to live this life.
  • Choice of living
    The client is immersed in deciding whether to retreat from life or accept the challenge of choosing how to live.
  • Handling existential anxiety
    An awareness of others’ (and our own) limited lifespan can lead to existential dread and requires support from the therapist.

Existential therapy does not provide a ‘one-size-fits-all’ treatment plan, but instead moves the client through their understanding, providing support along the way as they recognize their values and choices.

4 Best Counseling Interventions & Techniques

Existential therapists adopt an attitude of encouragement when working with clients, using a variety of techniques and counseling interventions to identify and reflect on what is important to them (van Deurzen, 2002; Iacovou & Weixel-Dixon, 2015).

Establishing contact

Similar to other therapeutic styles, in existential therapy the opening session is crucial for stating the therapist’s intention to help the client uncover their difficulties in living. It also provides the opportunity for the client to take stock of strengths and limitations and recognize that the therapist’s role is not to provide empathy or sympathy but to use the existential approach to methodically explore their ability to live (van Deurzen, 2002).

Essential points to clarify in the first session with the client regarding the therapeutic approach include (modified from van Deurzen, 2002):

  • Existential anxiety is a feeling of unease associated with becoming aware of our vulnerability.
  • Therapy is not aimed at removing anxiety but to find the courage to live with uncertainty.
  • Authentic living involves making the most out of life and finding clarity in our goals and intentions.
  • Authentic living is a goal, and while never fully achieved, the journey increases enjoyment and vitality.

Exploring the four worlds

The four worlds of human existence help orient the client’s position in the world. They prompt reflection on potentially unsolvable dilemmas and paradoxes that evoke anxiety throughout our lives (Iacovou & Weixel-Dixon, 2015).

  • Physical world
    How we relate to our environment and our mortality, prompting us to ask (Adams, 2013, p. 27):

“How can I live my life fully knowing I may die at any moment?”

  • Social world
    How we relate to others and the culture to which we belong, prompting us to ask (Adams, 2013, p. 27):

“What are other people there for?”

  • Personal world
    How we relate to ourselves, including our imagination, and how we see our past and future, prompting us to ask (Adams, 2013, p. 28):

“How can I be me?”

  • Spiritual world
    How we relate to the unknown, our personal value system, and our vision for an ideal world, prompting us to ask (Adams, 2013, p. 28):

“How should I live?”

The therapist listens for which world, or worlds, has prominence or have been neglected by the client.

Mapping the client’s worldview

The client’s worldview consists of their “attitudes, expectations and assumptions with respect to self, other and the world” and is essential to make sense of and give meaning to our place within a constantly changing world (Iacovou & Weixel-Dixon, 2015, p. 106).

The therapist works with the client to identify and map their worldview. Once understood, the client can begin to see where specific strategies may restrict their chance of leading a fulfilling and meaningful life (Iacovou & Weixel-Dixon, 2015).

Choosing and changing

In existential therapy, the client is encouraged to take ownership of their choices. They learn to see their existing reality more clearly and recognize their contribution to the situation.

The client is encouraged to take responsibility for consequences and recognize that authentic living requires taking risks.

5 Activities & Exercises for Your Sessions

Existential therapy requires becoming aware of our values and beliefs and identifying whether we behave in line with them.

The following activities and exercises contribute to the client’s understanding of their existing and potential reality.

Denial of responsibility

We may talk about our lives in specific ways to assert our lack of responsibility over what happens in them (Adams, 2013), including:

  • Substituting “I” with other pronouns (such as they)
  • Talking about the past (and even the future) and avoiding discussing the present
  • Being reactive rather than proactive
  • Seeing ourselves as passive rather than active

Ask the client to consider a time when they used each of the above approaches (or others) to avoid owning their reality:

What was I trying to avoid by talking in this way?

Becoming aware of your emotional vocabulary

When exploring and explaining emotions, we are often limited by our education and personal and cultural history (Adams, 2013).

Ask the client to list 10 of their most familiar emotional states (such as anger, happiness, fear, envy, hopeful, sadness). These are ones they encounter daily.

Then they should ask someone close to them to do the same.

Compare the lists and consider what emotions may have been missed, ignored, or avoided.

Considering values

It can be challenging to live an authentic and meaningful life without a clear understanding of our personal values and beliefs.

Ask the client to consider the following values questions and discuss their answers within the session (Adams, 2013):

How do you want to live your life?
How do you want to treat others and be treated?
How do you build/evolve a sense of overall meaning and purpose?
How do you feel about human existence as a whole?

2 Role-play exercises to try

Role-play can be a safe and fun way to explore emotions, values, and behavior.

Living with values

Having answered the previous question regarding values, take turns within a pair reflecting on how to live according to these values in different scenarios (at work, home, out with friends, etc. ).

Each person asks questions of the other regarding what they would do in a real or imagined situation.

For example,

Person one – “How would you interact with the staff in your team at work?”
Person two – “I would be open and honest in my dealings, considering their requests and providing fair responses.”

The role-play aims to encourage each person to see how behavior and talking can reflect personal values.

Most meaningful life

In pairs, take turns interviewing the other person regarding how their most meaningful life might look.

The interviewer makes up the questions, but they may include:

What job would you have in your most meaningful life?
Would you have a partner?
If so, how would you treat and be treated by that partner?
What sort of friends would you have?

The aim is, without judgment, to help the person answering form an image of what a meaningful life might be for them.

Helpful Worksheets to Give in Therapy

The following worksheets offer insight into what a meaningful life might look like for the client and examine the potential for bias from the therapist.

Becoming aware of our assumptions as existential therapists

All of us, including therapists, bring biases into conversations with others.

The Becoming Aware of Assumptions worksheet helps therapists reflect on what biases they carry that could impact the content and effectiveness of a treatment session.

Remembering Our First Times

When reflecting on what is happening in our lives, over-familiarity with events can cloud our feelings.

The Remembering Our First Times worksheet encourages reflection on how something felt the first time it happened and its impact.

Things That Went Well or Badly

Life is always unpredictable. While it can be difficult feeling out of control, we have a say over how we react.

The Things That Went Well or Badly worksheet allows us to reflect on an event that was important and felt like either a success or a failure.

Learning New Skills

Learning new skills can be extremely rewarding, encouraging growth and fostering new opportunities. However, the process can bring anxiety, apprehension, and even fear (Adams, 2013).

The Learning New Skills worksheet helps the client reflect on times they learned new skills to help them normalize and accept the feelings accompanying the growth process.

Four Worlds of Human Existence

As we have already seen, the four worlds of human existence are an essential aspect of existential therapy and can stimulate ongoing reflection in clients (Adams, 2013).

The Four Worlds of Human Existence worksheet can be shared with clients and revisited throughout treatment to encourage the client to reflect on their lives.

Managing Existential Anxiety

Considering some of life’s bigger questions as part of existential therapy can lead clients to experience a sense of fear, known as existential anxiety, that may discourage further work or risk taking (van Deurzen, 2002).

Share the Managing Existential Anxiety worksheet to help them recognize that existential anxiety is normal and consider the positive experiences and emotions they experience in life to maintain a balanced outlook.

4 Questions to Ask Your Clients

The following four questions are incredibly helpful for promoting reflection in clients.

They are very big questions, and it is important to make clear to the client that there are no right or wrong answers, but the act of reflecting is powerful (van Deurzen & Adams, 2016).

What do I intend to do before I die?
How do I get along with my friends, family, and those closest to me?
What do I owe myself in life, and how do I get it?
What are my moral values, and how do I live up to them?

3 Fascinating Books on the Topic

We have included three books that introduce trainees or experienced practitioners to the central ideas behind existential therapy.

1.

Existential Counselling & Psychotherapy in Practice – Emmy van Deurzen

The third edition of this valuable text explores the idea that our problems arise from the essential paradoxes of human existence rather than personal pathology.

This insightful and far-reaching book explores the theory and practical methods for the therapist to help clients understand what constitutes meaning and value in their lives.

Find the book on Amazon.

2.

A Concise Introduction to Existential Counselling – Martin Adams

This is a valuable introduction to existential counseling for students and those new to the field wishing to understand the key concepts.

Martin Adams explores how to use the therapeutic process to work effectively with clients, teaching them to live according to their values.

Find the book on Amazon.

3.

Existential Therapy: 100 Key Points and Techniques – Susan Iacovou and Karen Weixel-Dixon

This is an insightful and accessible book for understanding the human challenges of existence.

The authors provide a comprehensive introduction and overview of ideas and techniques central to the philosophical theories underpinning existential therapy, along with practical approaches for use with clients.

Find the book on Amazon.

For further reading, we also recommend these 7 Best Books to Help You Find the Meaning of Life.

A Look at Our Meaning & Valued Living Masterclass

The Meaning and Valued Living Masterclass is an online program for therapists, psychologists, counselors, coaches, and practitioners who want to help their clients find meaning and discover their values, connecting them to their ‘why’ so that they can bear any ‘how.’

The course consists of three modules. The introduction provides an in-depth look at positive psychology; the meaning module provides clarity on the complex topic of ‘meaning’ and tools to increase meaning in life; and the third module addresses valued living to help clients discover what is important to them.

The masterclass has received sterling reviews from entrepreneurs, business owners, and coaches, and can also help you earn continuing education credits.

Resources From PositivePsychology.com

Existential therapists work with clients to explore some of the most meaningful questions in their lives, including living fully and with meaning.

Why not download our free Meditations on Meaning exercises pack and try out the following powerful tools?

  • The Top 5 Values
    This helpful exercise is a valuable tool for increasing clients’ awareness of their values.
  • Self-Eulogy
    This is a valuable worksheet for helping clients discern how they live in line with their values.

Other free resources include:

  • The PERMA Model
    Understand and apply the PERMA model to your life by adopting a positive attitude and finding things that make you happy and engaged.
  • Self-Esteem Journal for Adults
    Journaling can promote positive self-reflection and encourage and enhance self-esteem.

More extensive versions of the following tools are available with a subscription to the Positive Psychology Toolkit©, but they are described briefly below:

  • The Life Certificate
    Enduring the death of a loved one can be one of the most painful experiences in our lives. It can help to remember the many good things about the deceased by creating a life certificate, including:
    • Reflecting on favorite stories that characterize the person and what they meant to you
    • Thinking of words that best describe them and how you appreciated them
    • How they helped you be the person you are today
  • The Values Timeline
    Invite the client to reflect on their values and how they have changed over their lifetime while recognizing they remain in control of what they are:
    • Clarify your top five core values.
    • Identify core values from earlier stages of your life.
    • Recognize how these values have changed over your life.
    • Examine how these values are serving you now.

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others discover meaning, check out this collection of 17 validated meaning tools for practitioners. Use them to help others choose directions for their lives in alignment with what is truly important to them.

A Take-Home Message

Existential therapy is based on the idea that our problems arise from the essential paradoxes of human existence rather than personal pathology.

We choose our values and whether and how we live according to them.

Existential therapists recognize that many of us are practiced at deceiving ourselves regarding life’s realities; we fail to see how the way we behave, think, and feel may be contributing to our unhappiness and lack of fulfillment (Iacovou & Weixel-Dixon, 2015).

During therapy, the practitioner encourages the client to remain open to other ways of living and being that they are not currently choosing. As such, it can be demanding, asking clients to comprehend and accept their responsibility for the choices they make. Taking responsibility for our lives can be a great source of anxiety, directly or indirectly, and requires dedicated and professional support (Adams, 2013).

This article introduces the theory and practices behind existential therapy and provides tools, worksheets, and questions to help clients in sessions or as homework.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Meaning and Valued Living Exercises for free.

  • Adams, M. (2013). A concise introduction to existential counselling. SAGE.
  • Iacovou, S., & Weixel-Dixon, K. (2015). Existential therapy: 100 Key points and techniques. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
  • van Deurzen, E. (2002). Existential counselling & psychotherapy in practice (2nd ed.). SAGE.
  • van Deurzen, E., & Adams, M. (2016). Skills in existential counselling & psychotherapy. SAGE.

The Existential Approach | The NSPC

The existential approach is first and foremost philosophical. It is concerned with the understanding of people’s position in the world and with the clarification of what it means to be alive.  It is also committed to exploring these questions with a receptive attitude, rather than a dogmatic one: the search for truth with an open mind and an attitude of wonder is the aim, not the fitting of the client into pre-established categories and interpretations.

The existential approach considers human nature to be open-ended, flexible and capable of an enormous range of experience. The person is in a constant process of becoming.  I create myself as I exist.  There is no essential, solid self, no given definition of one’s personality and abilities.

Existential thinkers avoid restrictive models that categorise or label people.  Instead, they look for the universals that can be observed transculturally. There is no existential personality theory which divides humanity up into types or reduces people to part components. Instead, there is a description of the different levels of experience and existence that people are inevitably confronted with.

Extracts are taken from ‘Existential Therapy’ (chapter 8) by Emmy van Deurzen, in Dryden, W. ed. The Dryden Handbook of Individual Therapy, London, Sage Publications, 2008.

Existential Therapy 

World Confederation for Existential Therapy 

Preface 

In 2014-2016, an international group representing a cross-section of contemporary existential therapists joined together in a cooperative effort to create this broad definition. It was written in the spirit of inclusiveness and diversity that characterizes this unique orientation, toward the goal of arriving at an accessible, succinct, "good enough" working definition of existential therapy. This definition recognises and honours the shared and unifying stance which underpins and informs the various different ways of understanding and practising existential therapy today, without doing violence to its inherent spontaneity, flexibility, creativity and mystery.  What follows is the current version of an ongoing, continually evolving, collective quest. 

  1. What is existential therapy? 
    Existential therapy is a philosophically informed approach to counselling or psychotherapy. It comprises a richly diverse spectrum of theories and practices. Due partly to its evolving diversity, existential therapy is not easily defined. For instance, some existential therapists do not consider this approach to be a distinct and separate “school” of counselling or psychotherapy, but rather an attitude, orientation or stance towards therapy in general. However, in recent years, existential therapy is increasingly considered by others to be a particular and specific approach unto itself. In either case, it can be said that though difficult to formalize and define, at its heart, existential therapy is a profoundly philosophical approach characterized in practice by an emphasis on relatedness, spontaneity, flexibility, and freedom from rigid doctrine or dogma.  Indeed, due to these core qualities, to many existential therapists, the attempt to define it seems contradictory to its very nature.
    As with other therapeutic approaches, existential therapy primarily (but not exclusively) concerns itself with people who are suffering and in crisis. Some existential therapists intervene in ways intended to alleviate or mitigate such distress when possible and assist individuals to contend with life’s inevitable challenges in a more meaningful, fulfilling, authentic, and constructive manner. Other existential therapists are less symptom-centred or problem-oriented and engage their clients in a wide-ranging exploration of existence without presupposing any particular therapeutic goals or outcomes geared toward correcting cognitions and behaviours, mitigating symptoms or remedying deficiencies. Nevertheless, despite their significant theoretical, ideological and practical differences, existential therapists share a particular philosophically-derived worldview which distinguishes them from most other contemporary practitioners.   
    Existential therapy generally consists of a supportive and collaborative exploration of patients’ or clients' lives and experiences.  It places primary importance on the nature and quality of the here-and-now therapeutic relationship, as well as on an exploration of the relationships between clients and their contextual lived worlds beyond the consulting room.  In keeping with its strong philosophical foundation, existential therapy takes the human condition itself -- in all its myriad facets, from tragic to wondrous, horrific to beautiful, material to spiritual -- as its central focus. Furthermore, it considers all human experience as intrinsically inseparable from the ground of existence, or “being-in-the-world”, in which we each constantly and inescapably participate.  
    Existential therapy aims to illuminate the way in which each unique person -- within certain inevitable limits and constraining factors -- comes to choose, create and perpetuate his or her own way of being in the world.   In both its theoretical orientation and practical approach, existential therapy emphasizes and honours the perpetually emerging, unfolding, and paradoxical nature of human experience, and brings an unquenchable curiosity to what it truly means to be human. Ultimately, it can be said that existential therapy confronts some of the most fundamental and perennial questions regarding human existence: "Who am I?" “What is my purpose in life?”  “Am I free or determined?” “How do I deal with my own mortality?” "Does my existence have any meaning or significance?" "How shall I live my life?" 
  2. Why is it called “existential” therapy? 
    Existential therapy is based on a broad range of insights, values, and principles derived from phenomenological and existential philosophies. These philosophies of existence stress certain “ultimate concerns” -- often in dialectical tension with each other -- such as freedom of choice, the quest for meaning or purpose, and the problems of evil, isolation, suffering, guilt, anxiety, despair, and death.  For existential therapists, “phenomenology” refers to the disciplined philosophical method by which these ultimate concerns or "givens" are addressed, and through which the person’s basic experience of being-in-the-world can best be illuminated or revealed, and thus, more accurately understood. This phenomenological method begins by deliberately trying to set aside one’s presuppositions so as to be more fully open and receptive to the exploration of another person’s subjective reality.  
    Though there can be many different motivations for individuals choosing to engage in this explorative process, as with most forms of counselling, psychotherapy, or psychological and psychiatric treatment, existential therapy is commonly sought by people in the throes of an existential crisis: some specific circumstance in which we experience our basic sense of survival, security, identity or significance as being threatened. Such existential threats may be of a physical, social, emotional or spiritual nature, and may be directed toward one's self, others, the world in general or the ideas and perceptions we live by.  They shock and shake us out of our sense of safety and complacency, forcing us to question and doubt our most deeply held beliefs or values. Because, according to existential therapists, human existence is, by its very nature, continually changing or becoming, we are naturally prone to experiencing such existential challenges or crises across the lifespan. In existential therapy, these disorienting and anxiety provoking periods of crisis are perceived as both a perilous passage and an opportunity for transformation and growth.  
  3. How does existential therapy work? 
    Existential therapists see their practice as a mutual, collaborative, encouraging and explorative dialogue between two struggling human beings -- one of whom is seeking assistance from the other who is professionally trained to provide it. Existential therapy places special emphasis on cultivating a caring, honest, supportive, empathic yet challenging relationship between therapist and client, recognizing the vital role of this relationship in the therapeutic process.   
    In practice, existential therapy explores how clients’ here-and-now feelings, thoughts and dynamic interactions within this relationship and with others might illuminate their wider world of past experiences, current events, and future expectations.  This respectful, compassionate, supportive yet nonetheless very real encounter -- coupled with a phenomenological stance -- permits existential therapists to more accurately comprehend and descriptively address the person's way of being in the world. Taking great pains to avoid imposing their own worldview and value system upon clients or patients, existential therapists may seek to disclose and point out certain inconsistencies, contradictions or incongruence in someone's chosen but habitual ways of being. By so doing, some existential therapists will when necessary, constructively confront a person's sometimes self-defeating or destructive ways of being in the world. Others will deliberately choose to avoid viewing or addressing any experience or expression of the person's being in the world from a perspective that construes it as being positive/negative, constructive/destructive, healthy/unhealthy, etc.  In either case, the therapeutic aim is to illuminate, clarify, and place these problems into a broader perspective so as to promote clients' capacity to recognize, accept, and actively exercise their responsibility and freedom: to choose how to be or act differently, if such change is so desired; or, if not, to tolerate, affirm and embrace their chosen ways of being in the world.   
    To facilitate this potentially liberating process, existential therapy focuses primarily on enhancing the person's awareness of his or her “inner” experiencing, "subjectivity" or being: the temporal, transitory, vital flux of moment-to-moment thoughts, sensations and feelings. At the same time, existential therapy recognizes the inevitable interplay between past, present and future. In this regard, existential therapists respect the impressive power of the past and the future and directly address it as it impacts upon the present. 
  4. What makes existential therapy different from other therapies? 
    In addition to its unique combination of philosophical worldview, phenomenological stance, and core emphasis on both the therapeutic relationship and actual experience, existential therapy is generally less focused on diagnosing psychopathology and providing rapid symptom relief per se than other forms of therapy.  Instead, distressing "symptoms" such as anxiety, depression or rage are recognized as potentially meaningful and comprehensible reactions to current circumstances and personal contextual history. As such, existential therapy is primarily concerned with experiencing and exploring these disturbing phenomena in depth: directly grappling with rather than trying to immediately suppress or eradicate them. Consistent with this, existential therapy tends to be more exploratory than specifically or behaviorally goal-oriented. Its principal aim is to clarify, comprehend, describe and explore rather than analyze, explain, treat or “cure” someone's subjective experience of suffering.  
  5. What techniques or methods do existential therapists employ? 
    Existential therapy does not define itself predominantly on the basis of any particular predetermined technique(s). Indeed, some existential therapists eschew the use of any technical interventions altogether, concerned that such contrived methods may diminish the essential human quality, integrity, and honesty of the therapeutic relationship.  However, the one therapeutic practice common to virtually all existential work is the phenomenological method. Here, the therapist endeavours to be as fully present, engaged, and free of expectations as possible during each and every therapeutic encounter by attempting to temporarily put aside all preconceptions regarding the process. The purpose is to gain a clearer contextual in-depth understanding and acceptance of what a certain experience might signify to this specific person at this particular time in his or her life.  
    Many existential therapists also make use of basic skills like empathic reflection, Socratic questioning, and active listening. Some may also draw on a wide range of techniques derived from other therapies such as psychoanalysis, cognitive-behavioural therapy, person-centred, somatic, and Gestalt therapy. This technical flexibility allows some existential practitioners the freedom to tailor the particular response or intervention to the specific needs of the individual client and the continually evolving therapeutic process. However, whatever methods might or might not be employed in existential therapy, they are typically intentionally chosen to help illuminate the person's being at this particular moment in his or her history.
  6. What are the goals of existential therapy?  
    The overall purpose of existential therapy is to allow clients to explore their lived experience honestly, openly and comprehensively. Through this spontaneous, collaborative process of discovery, clients are helped to gain a clearer sense of their experiences and the subjective meanings they may hold. This self-exploration provides individuals with the opportunity to confront and wrestle with profound philosophical, spiritual and existential questions of every kind, as well as with the more mundane challenges of daily living.  Fully engaging in this supportive, explorative, challenging process can help clients come to terms with their own existence, and take responsibility for the ways they have chosen to live it.  Consequently, it can also encourage them to choose ways of being in the present and future that they, themselves, identify as more deeply satisfying, meaningful and authentic.  
  7. Who can potentially benefit from existential therapy?  
    An existential approach may be helpful to people contending with a broad range of problems, symptoms or challenges. It can be utilized with a wide variety of clients, ranging from children to senior citizens, couples, families or groups, and in virtually any setting, including clinics, hospitals, private practices, the workplace, organizations, and in the wider social community. Because existential therapy recognizes that we always exist in an interrelational context with the world, it can be especially useful for working with clients from diverse demographic and cultural backgrounds.   
    While existential therapy is particularly well-suited to people who are seeking to explore their own philosophical stance toward life, it may, in some cases, be a less appropriate choice for patients in need of rapid remediation of painful, life-threatening or debilitating psychiatric symptoms.  However, precisely due to its fundamental focus on a person’s entire existence rather than solely on psychopathology and symptoms, existential therapy can nonetheless potentially be an effective approach in addressing even the most severe reactions to devastating psychological, spiritual or existential disruptions or upheavals in their lives, whether in combination with psychiatric medication when needed or on its own.    
  8. What scientific evidence is there regarding the efficacy of existential therapy? 
    A range of well-controlled studies indicates that certain forms of existential therapy, for certain client groups, can lead to increased well-being and sense of meaning (Vos, Craig & Cooper, 2014). This body of evidence is growing, with new studies showing that existential therapies can produce as much improvement as other therapeutic approaches (e.g., Rayner & Vitali, in press). This finding is consistent with decades of scientific research which shows that, overall, all forms of psychotherapy are effective, and that, on average, most therapies are more or less equally helpful (Seligman, 1995; Wampold & Imel, 2015), with specific client characteristics and preferences determining the best therapeutic approach for any given individual.  There is also a good deal of evidence indicating that one of the core qualities associated with existential therapy – a warm, valuing and empathic client or patient-therapist relationship — is predictive of positive therapeutic outcomes (Norcross & Lambert, 2011). Additionally, existential therapy's central emphasis on finding or making meaning has been shown in general to be a significant factor in effective treatment (Wampold & Imel, 2015).  
  9. Where can I find out more about existential therapy and/or professional training to become an existential therapist?  
    Until recently, there were few if any formal training programs for existential therapists. In recent years, this situation has changed, with the creation of various training programs in the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Canada, Scandinavia, Israel, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Lithuania, Greece, Australia and many other countries.   

A full list of training courses is available on the website. 

More about the existential approach

An extract from the constitution of the Federation of Existential Therapists in Europe (FETE) to be found at http://existentialfete.online/:

"The existential worldview:

Existential Therapy values the interactive, relational and embodied nature of human consciousness and human existence. It considers that human beings are free to effect change in their lives in a responsible, deliberate, ethical and thoughtful manner, by understanding their difficulties and by coming to terms with the possibilities and limitations of the human condition in general and of their own lives in particular. It emphasises the importance of finding meaning and purpose by engaging with life at many levels, physical, social, personal and spiritual. It does not prescribe a particular worldview but examines the tensions and contradictions in a person’s way of being. This will include a consideration of existential limits such as death, failure, weakness, guilt, anxiety and despair. "

How does existential therapy work?

There are many forms of Existential Therapy and each has its own specific methods and ways of exploring difficulties and change, but all forms of existential therapy work with dialogue to enable a person to find their own authority in exploring their life and the way they want to live it. This will often involve a philosophical and ethical exploration of the big questions of human existence, such as truth, meaning, justice, beauty, freedom, consciousness, choice, responsibility, friendship and love.

Existential Therapy is a pragmatic and experiential approach which favours embodiment, emotional depth, clarity and directness and which employs the principles of logic, paradox, dialectics, phenomenology and hermeneutic exploration amongst other methods.

What does it aim for?

Existential therapists aim to approach a person’s un-ease or suffering in a phenomenological, holistic way. Symptoms are not seen as the defining aspect of a person’s troubles, but rather as an expression of the person’s disconnection from reality, or distorted reality.

Therefore Existential therapists see symptoms as a way of coping with difficulty, a problem, or an existential crisis. A person’s experience will be considered at all levels.

Equal attention will be paid to a person’s past, present and future. Existential therapists facilitate a person’s greater awareness of their mode of being in the world, helping them to be more in touch with their concrete physicality, their interactions and relationships, their engagement with their own identity or lack of it, their concept of what grounds their being and the ways in which they may be able to bring the flow and their capacity for transcendence, learning and pleasurable forward movement back to life. It helps people to tolerate and embrace suffering and difficulty to engage with it constructively.

How do we train people?

Existential therapists are trained in specialist training programs, that require training at post-graduate level and which involve theoretical learning, skills training, practical learning under supervision, a process of personal therapy to learn to apply existential principles in practice and the completion of some form of phenomenological research project or a final project that includes theory and practice. ”

 

  1. Norcross, J. C., & Lambert, M. J. (2011). Evidence-based therapy relationships. In J. C. Norcross (Ed.), Psychotherapy relationships that work: Evidence-based responsiveness (2nd ed., pp. 3-21). New York: Oxford University.  
  2. Rayner, M., & Vitali, D. (in press). Short-term existential psychotherapy in primary care: A quantitative report. Journal of Humanistic Psychology. [Spanish translation published as Rayner, M. y Vitali, D. (2015). Psicoterapia existencial de corto plazo en atención primaria: Un reporte cuantitativo. Revista electrónica Latinoamericana de Psicologia Existencial "Un enfoque comprensivo del ser". N° 11. Octubre.] 
  3. Vos, J., Craig, M., & Cooper, M. (2014). Existential therapies: A meta-analysis of their effects on psychological outcomes. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 83(1), 115-128. doi: 10.1037/a0037167  
  4. Wampold, B. E., & Imel, Z. E. (2015). The Great Psychotherapy Debate: The Evidence for What Makes Psychotherapy Work (2nd ed. ). New York: Routledge.

Chapter 2. Fundamentals and Methods of Existential Psychotherapy

Existential approach turned out to be not just “whimsical mind game", its representatives provided patients real help. Existential Oriented psychotherapy was not a single school, within its framework there is many directions. [1] Among existentially oriented psychotherapy should first of all, to name such scientists, like james Bugental, Rollo May, Irvin Yalom, Viktor Frankl, and others. Certainly, named scientists are not exhausted existential direction in psychology, but he made a huge contribution to its formation and development.

Victor Frankl is often referred to as one of the most influential figures in the existential psychotherapy. In his teaching the search for the meaning of one's own life is called the driving force behind the existence of the individual, “human existence itself can be considered human only to the extent that in which it has meaning. In the absence of this meaning, a state named by Frankl "existential vacuum". (see Attachment 2) Existential vacuum generates so-called noogenic neuroses [4]. “Today we are, in fact, already dealing with frustration of non-sexual needs, as in Freud's time, but with frustration existential needs," writes Frankl [7]. He explained as follows causes of existential vacuum: man, unlike animals, instincts do not dictate what he needs, and modern man has no tradition dictate what he should. Not knowing either no other, one loses idea of ​​what he needs. Noogenic neuroses, on the other hand, “do not stem from complexes and conflicts in the traditional sense words, but out of remorse, out of conflicts of values ​​and, last but not least, queue - out of existential frustration" [7]. Viktor Frankl developed his own psychotherapeutic school called logotherapy. In it as the basis of human life its desire for meaning is considered [3]. According to Frankl's logotherapy procedure may be reminiscent of Freud's psychoanalysis, but in it the spiritual becomes the main one, rather than instinctive, a person comes to self-understanding [4].

Wide known for the work of the American psychologist Rollo May. The purpose of the existential psychotherapy, he considered the most full life of the patient, acceptance of life. Rollo May can be called the first American existential psychologist, he revealed to his colleagues "existential thought as such" [4]. He, using the European existential and phenomenological traditions, formulated the main characteristics of the existential position [3].

Close related to his concept is humanistic-existential psychotherapy by James Bugenthal which he tries to combine the principles humanistic and existential psychology (although they often contradict each other) [3]. At 1963 James Bugenthal put forward the following five postulates:

  • Man like the whole being transcends the sum their quitters.

  • human being unfolds in context human relations.

  • Man is conscious myself.

  • Man has choice.

  • Human intentional (it looks to the future, to his life has a purpose, values ​​meaning)

[9, p. 24].

irvine Yalom along with the above scientists considered the founder of the school existential therapy. He owns the following words: "Attractive force existential therapy due to because it is firmly rooted in ontological foundation, in the deepest structures of human existence…Except addition, space existential paradigm is very broad: it absorbs and assimilates insights many philosophers, artists and therapists, concerning painful and healing consequences of confrontation with the final factors" [9, p. 542]. Irvin Yalom, starting from Freud's psychodynamics, comes to own existential psychodynamics, from mechanisms psychological defense according to Freud - to his ideas about existential protection mechanisms [4]. Yalom singled out four the ultimate givens of existence, which “…determine the main content of the existential psychodynamics” [9, p. 14]. Cause emergence existential conflict Yalom called confrontation individual with these data. Conflict arises as a result of confrontation "between the consciousness of the inevitability of death and the desire to continue living, "a conscious absolute isolation and the need for contact, protection, belonging to a larger whole, between the search for the meaning of existence and senselessness, as well as lack of external structure - freedom in an existential sense, and need in it [9, pp. 12-13]. T. Greening describes the problem existential psychology is similar to I. Yalom, but he talks about four "calls"

  • The first one is the problem of life and death.

  • The second one is a problem meaning and absurdity.

  • The third one is the problem of freedom and determinism.

  • Fourth - the problem of communication and loneliness.

According to Greening, There are three possible reactions to each such challenge. First possible reaction - "simplified-optimistic, with an emphasis on the positive aspect, the second reaction is “simplified pessimistic, fatalistic attitude to the negative aspects of challenges” and the third reaction is existential, "dialectical confrontation of the negative and positive aspects of problems, creative reaction and transcendence, overcoming opposition” [5]. Possible reaction to problem of life and death - optimistic emphasis on life and denial of death. The opposite is to move towards death, suicidal tendencies, neglect of health. Existential another option is life cycle awareness and acceptance of the fact of death (see Appendix 1). The following responses to the problem are possible meaning and absurdity. optimistic - triumph of rational thought or the blind faith, negative - denial of meaning and refusal to seek it and existential – openness to different meanings and ideas. Possible reactions to the problem of freedom and determinism. Optimistic - affirmation of freedom without borders, pessimistic - flight from freedom and choice, and another option - research and expansion of freedom, recognition of one's limbs and respect for other people and to their capabilities. Possible reactions on the problem of communication and loneliness. Optimistic - denial of isolation, hypersocial, pessimistic - withdrawal into loneliness, its ideologization. And the third option is authentic readiness communicate with other people [8]. These elections give a fairly accurate representation. about the existential position.

existential psychology is practical psychology. All its famous representatives - practicing psychologists and psychotherapists. There are specific approach methods: phenomenological and existential analysis (Daseinanalyse). Thanks to the strongest philosophical base existential psychology has opportunity to carry out methodological analysis of other concepts and explicate their own methodology and philosophy [4]. According to Rimantas Kociunas, a client of the existential Anyone can be a psychotherapist what matters is his active participation in psychotherapeutic work and openness. Existential psychotherapy especially can be successful in helping people found themselves in crisis situations, grieving the loss of loved ones, loss, confrontation with death [3] . "Moreover, because existential psychotherapy is a therapy that promotes more full and freer living life - few people can not be shown" - said in the article "Existentialism in psychology” [4]. existential psychotherapy can be successfully applied to overcome the condition of patients, which V. Frankl described as "existential vacuum", and for the treatment neuroses, etiology which can be presented, according to its words, "existential frustration or frustration of the will to meaning” [6]. It is characteristic that existentially oriented the therapist does not concentrate the patient, unlike the psychoanalyst, on the period childhood - the experience of the present is important to him, client experiences [1].

Rollo May gives some explanations for psychotherapy technique, first of all, he emphasizes that “... one of the main (if not the most most importantly) obstacles to understanding human beings in western culture is an overemphasis on technology, tendency to see a human being as an object that can be controlled, which can be analyzed With an existential approach, technique should follow understanding [8]. Rollo May makes a number of remarks. First note regarding the techniques used in psychotherapy. Psychotherapeutic techniques are as different as different schools. Existential technique should be flexible depending on from the patient and from the period of therapy. Second the following remark: “... psychological dynamism always takes its toll meaning from an existential situation patient's life." Third remark concerns the issue of presence in existential therapy. Therapist - part of the "field" of the patient's relationship, and he cannot see the patient without taking participation in this field of relations. Fourth Note: The therapist must understand which blocks its full presence. The fifth remark concerns the goal of therapy: the patient must experience existence as real. He must realize your potential and learn act on that basis. First The goal of therapy is not to cure the symptoms, but to help a person experience his existence, the first only accompanies the second. sixth remark emphasizes the importance obligations. It was believed that the more the patient learns about himself, the more correct he will make decisions. However the patient cannot afford knowledge about himself until he accepts preliminary solutions. The decision means decisive attitude towards existence.

In conclusion, one can quote the words of R. Kociunas: “The main The purpose of existential therapy is to help man better understand his life, to better understand the possibilities and limits of these possibilities ... all attention is focused on understanding process of a concrete life, in its everyday manifestations of contradictions and paradoxes” [3]. Efficiency existential psychotherapy corroborates many examples from practices of therapists using this an approach.

Thus, existential psychotherapy is a single school, many representatives of this direction created their unique concepts and directions. So, V. Frankl created logotherapy, helping people find meaning Rollo May became the first American existential psychologist, J. Bugental tried to combine the principles existential and humanistic psychology, Irvin Yalom identified four finite givens of existence, confrontation with which underlies existential conflict. Existential psychotherapy for the first time queue - practical approach, successfully used to provide people with existential crisis, experiencing difficult life situations. Is not a set of techniques, this is an attitude towards to therapy, to understanding person.

Conclusion

In the first chapter review abstract was reviewed emergence and development of the existential directions in psychology, its main characteristics and features, difference existential paradigm from others approaches. In the second chapter more it was said about the work of representatives existentially oriented psychotherapy, about the main determinants emergence of existential conflict, as well as practices in existential therapy.

Existential approach - a special psychotherapeutic paradigm with a powerful philosophical base in the form of works of philosophers-existentialists. Special influence on the formation existential position in psychology and psychotherapy were provided by the works of S. Kierkegaard, M. Heidegger, K. Jaspers, Jean-Paul Sartre . For existential psychology characteristic interest in eternal questions human life and emphasis on its tragic aspects. founder existential school, creator existential analysis is considered Binswanger, an important contribution to the development directions were introduced by M. Boss. existential psychotherapy in Europe is presented scholars such as Victor Frankl, Alfrid Lenglet, Calfried von Dürkheim, in America - Rollo May, Irvin Yalom, James Bugenthal. Row distinguishes this approach from other psychotherapeutic approaches. Existential psychotherapy aims on the life of man, on his being-in-the-world. Man, according to existential psychologists, can only be understood as continuous process of life and studied in its relationship with the environment. The existential approach is lack of predestination and determinism: all characteristics formed in human interaction with the world. Phenomenological method used to understand the person. Existential psychotherapy is is a single school there are different concepts and directions. existential psychotherapy – practical approach, successful used to help people with various problems. She offers not a system of new techniques, but a special approach to therapy and to understanding the patient and his problems. Further research on this topic seems to be relevant, its possible directions – methods and techniques characteristic of the existential approach that can be used representatives of other psychotherapeutic schools.

Bibliography

1) Belorusov, S. A. Existentially oriented psychotherapy [Electronic resource] / S. A. Belorusov. – Electronic st. - Mode access to the article: http://hpsy.ru/authors/x038.htm

2) Bratchenko, S. L. Existential-humanistic approach in psychology and psychotherapy [Electronic resource] / S. Bratchenko. - Electronic st. – Access mode to station: http://hpsy.ru/public/theory/

3) Kachunas, R. Existential Psychotherapy [Electronic resource] / R. Kachunas. - Electronic st. – Access mode to station: http://www.psyinst.ru/library.php?part=articles&p=56

4) Letunovsky, V. V. Existentialism in psychology [Electronic resource] / V. V. Letunovsky, S. B. Eselson. – Electronic st. - Mode access to st.: http://hpsy.ru/tags/12/

5) Psychology with a human face: humanistic perspective in Post-Soviet Psychology [Electronic resource] / ed. D.A. Leontieva, V.G. Shchur.– Electronic st. – Access mode to station: http://hpsy.ru/linkc/theory-1.htm

6) Frankl, V. Fundamentals of logotherapy [Electronic resource] / V. Frankl. – Electronic st. - Access mode to the station: http://frankl.hpsy.ru/publication.php

7) Frankl, V. Man in search of meaning [Electronic resource] / V. Frankl. - Electronic st. – Access mode to station: http://frankl. hpsy.ru/publication.php

8) Existential Psychology [Electronic resource] / ed. Rollo May.; per. from eng. M. Zanadvorov and Y. Ovchinnikov - Electronic st. – Access mode to station: http://psylib.kiev.ua/

9) Yalom, I. Existential Psychotherapy [Text] / I. Yalom. - M .: Independent firm "Class", 2005. - 576 p.

Applications.

Application 1

Questionnaire to assess personality changes in cancer patients

Questionnaire compiled to assess personality changes in seventy patients suffering metastatic breast cancer. Questionnaire consists of seventeen statements on theme of personal growth, each of which evaluated on a five-point scale in relation to two periods of life: before disease now. fourteen statements out of seventeen big Some patients reported positive changes. None of the participants in study of patients was not at this moment in the hospital, almost no one did not lose his ability to work, everyone knew your diagnosis and what in the end they will die of their disease.

  1. I can open talk to your husband

  2. I feel beauty nature.

  3. I have a feeling personal freedom.

  4. I try to be open with your children.

  5. It's important to me for everyone to love me.

  6. I get from life lots of fun.

  7. I am honest in communication. and open.

  8. I only do what I really want to do.

  9. I live in the present not in the past or future.

10. I have moments of deep peace.

11. I stand up for their personal rights.

12. I feel psychologically comfortable.

13. In communication with I am open to friends.

14. I think I I know something important about life that I can pass on to others.

15. I am capable determine what I want to do.

16. My life has meaning and significance.

17. Religious or spiritual views are of great importance to me meaning.

Second part questionnaire is devoted to the analysis of changes the intensity of ordinary fears. By nine items subjects reported gain fears, one by one the scores were distributed equally and nineteen out of twenty nine points most of the subjects noted a decrease in fear.

  1. Dead people.

  2. Angry people.

  3. parting with friends.

  4. closed premises.

  5. Experience rejection from others.

  6. Experience condemnation from others.

  7. Ignoring others.

  8. Darkness.

  9. People with deformities.

10) Commit error.

11) Look stupid.

12) Lose control.

13) Leadership or responsibility for the decision.

14) Mental disease.

15) Walkthrough written tests.

16) Touch other people.

17) Owl feeling dissimilar to others.

18) Loneliness.

19) Stay in unfamiliar place.

20) Public performance.

21) Bad dreams.

22) Failure.

23) Get in a room where people are already sitting.

24) Look down from the windows of tall buildings.

25) Strangers.

26) Get angry.

27) those in power, authoritative people.

28) Pause in conversation.

29) Creepy insects.

Application 2

Quotes from the book by V. Frankl “Man in search of meaning"

B one of his works [7] V. Frankl cites the following quote from a letter American student: "Here in America, I am surrounded on all sides

young people my age who desperately trying to find the meaning of their existence. One of them recently died my best friends to find this sense failed."

Except Moreover, in the same work, the following statistics:

" among the causes of death in American students second in frequency after traffic accidents take up suicide. At the same time, the number suicide attempts (not ended death) 15 times more. Frankl gives interesting statistics survey data 60 Idaho State University students after similar suicide attempts: 85 percent of them are not seen again in your life has no meaning; wherein 93 percent of them were physically and mentally healthy, lived in good material conditions and in full agreement with your family they actively participate in public life and had every reason to be pleased with their academic success.

Also he cites data from the report American Council on education, which provides data survey of 189,733 students at 360 universities. The main interest of 73.7 percent of respondents expressed in the goal "to come to worldview that would make life meaningful. " According to the report National Institute of Mental health: out of 7948 students in 48 universities the largest number (78 per cent) expressed desire "to find in your life Meduza

1

Why do you need to understand the types of psychotherapy? therapies that are easy to confuse. Friends and acquaintances may recommend you what worked for them, but your situation is likely to be different. The specialists themselves, too, will usually offer an approach within which they practice. Even those who try to combine in their practice, different methods of psychotherapy, more often than not, they are best versed in any one.0005

At the same time, there is no one method of psychotherapy that is generally better than all the others: the choice depends only on your characteristics, on the type of problem and on how ready you are to solve it. We asked clinical psychologist and psychotherapist Viktor Bogomolov to talk about seven popular techniques - from psychoanalysis to hypnosis - and explain what to expect from them.

2

Psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic therapy

Many different types of therapy fall into this group, but they have one thing in common - this is the method of interpretation. In the process of psychoanalysis, the therapist attempts to explain the client's symptoms and suffering through interpretations of his words and behavior. All this is related to past experience and is based on how you behave at the reception. As a rule, this method involves long-term work, and in the case of psychoanalysis, it is also frequent, meetings with a psychoanalyst can take place several times a week.

The interpretation method may be useful to those who feel the problem, but do not fully understand what it is, how to approach the solution and what result they would like to achieve. If you tend to think carefully and weigh all aspects of a situation before acting, you are concerned about your inner world - you are here. But if you are an active person who is used to setting clear goals, then psychoanalysis is not the best choice. And you should not resort to it if you have a very specific problem or symptom that interferes with life.

3

Cognitive behavioral therapy

This type of psychotherapy involves working with thoughts and behavior. This means that the specialist will give many explanations of what is happening to you and why, how your problems are arranged, and also what your thoughts and actions lead to their occurrence. He will also set a lot of tasks that will have to be completed between meetings. For example, notice and write down certain thoughts that arise during the day. In some cases, a psychotherapist may go out with you to the city and help you behave in a new way in frightening or painful situations. This is called a behavioral experiment.

This method can be useful for a person who is determined about the problem, is used to actively overcoming difficulties in life and prefers clarity and clarity. This method is worth paying attention to if you have been thinking about your problem for a long time and feel the need to solve it. In addition, the type of problem itself is important here: cognitive-behavioral therapy copes well with various types of anxiety disorders, fears and fears.

4

Gestalt therapy

If we talk about the behavior of a psychotherapist in sessions, then gestalt is the most vague type of therapy. But still, there are some general patterns. As a rule, Gestalt therapists pay the most attention to the experiences and emotions of the client and offer to focus on them. In addition, the idea of ​​personal independence is especially important for Gestalt therapy. Ultimately, this approach allows customers to better understand what they want and how they can get it from other people.

If you prefer talking about feelings to talking about thoughts, if you are interested in improving your relationships with others and learning to stand up for yourself, then this method may be a good option. It is also appropriate in situations where you understand that you can no longer behave "in the old way" and are ready to take risks by trying new things.

5

Hypnosis

Strictly speaking, hypnosis is not a separate method, but an “addition” to other types of psychotherapy. However, often specialists claim to be hypnotherapists and use this method as one of the main ones. In the process, the therapist makes various types of suggestions so that the client experiences changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior. Don't be afraid: hypnosis is a well-researched and scientifically based method of psychotherapy. It is important to understand that hypnosis involves the active participation of the client in the process, and not just following the instructions of the specialist.

Hypnosis is a short-term form of psychotherapy and works best for specific problems. For example, associated with involuntary reactions, pain or psychosomatic symptoms.

6

Eye Movement Desensitization and Processing

This method involves dealing with the client's traumatic or painful memories. The therapist asks you to recall or imagine certain situations in your imagination and at the same time moves your fingers or a pointer in front of your face, triggering certain eye movements. Such movements help to process memories and sensations: the very memory of painful events will remain, but they will no longer bother you. It sounds amazing, but this is one of the recognized methods of behavioral therapy. Research confirms that this is one of the effective methods in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and getting rid of the consequences of psychological trauma.

7

Narrative Therapy

Narrative is essentially the story of your life. The therapist helps build it the way you want, and not the way "you need to live" according to society or parents. Often the stories that are really important to you personally go against social precepts. This is where a therapist comes in to help. You will be asked a lot of questions: this is what will help to say what is valuable to you. The therapist will help to fix the most important things on paper - in the form of a diary, letters or notes.

Narrative therapy is one of the most democratic methods of psychotherapy, since the therapist does not give prescriptions, recommendations, tasks or interpretations, but only asks questions and with their help guides the client in the conversation. This is a good solution if you are annoyed by advice, but you are not sure how to solve your problems.

8

Solution Oriented Brief Therapy

As the name suggests, the focus here is not on finding and analyzing the causes of problems, but on finding solutions, so it is the exact opposite of psychoanalysis. Psychotherapists working in this direction believe that in order to solve a problem, it is not at all necessary to spend a long time researching the causes of its occurrence, and this psychotherapy involves a small number of sessions. The specialist focuses on the expectations of clients, their capabilities and needs. The whole method is future-oriented: leading questions help you describe the situation you hope to achieve. During therapy, simple and easy tasks are used to help you see your strengths, to notice what actions lead to positive changes - even if they are very small at first.

This method can gently nudge you in the right direction if you don't like to delve into problems and talk about actions is easier for you than about inner feelings. But for this you need to be determined to deal with the difficulties that you have encountered.

9

What else should you pay attention to if you decide to see a psychotherapist?

Surprisingly, the method the therapist uses has the least effect on the outcome. It is much more important that you feel that the therapist accepts and understands you, treats you with respect and listens attentively. This is the foundation without which it will be difficult to advance in work.

The second important point is the psychotherapist's understanding of your goals and objectives, the result you expect from therapy. If the therapist did not understand your goals or began to impose his own, you need to talk to him about this topic. If after that he continues to insist on his own vision of the task, it is better to turn to someone else. Feel free to discuss your doubts with your therapist if you feel that specific techniques are not suitable for you. A therapist who is interested in making you feel better will try to find the most effective ways to achieve your goals.

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