Humanistic Existential Therapy is an approach to psychotherapy that combines principles from both humanistic psychology and existential philosophy. The core of this therapy focuses on helping individuals explore their personal experiences, choices, and sense of meaning in life. As detailed below, I offer humanistic and existential therapies individually and as a combined approach.
This post breaks down the key components of humanistic and existential therapies and the core aspects of an integrative approach called humanistic existential therapy. If you’d like information about how an existential humanistic therapy approach might work for you or a loved one or have any general questions about either approach, please feel free to contact me or schedule a consultation anytime.
Humanistic and Existential Therapies
Humanistic and Existential Therapies are two distinct but closely related approaches to psychotherapy. Both emphasize individual experience, personal growth, and the search for meaning, but they have unique philosophical roots and therapeutic techniques. Here’s a breakdown of the similarities and differences between humanistic and existential therapies:
- Self-Actualization: Inspired by Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, humanistic therapy aims to help individuals reach their highest potential.
- Person-Centered Approach: Carl Rogers’ client-centered therapy emphasizes unconditional positive regard, empathy, and authenticity from the therapist. The therapist is a non-directive guide, allowing clients to explore and discover their own solutions.
- Focus on the Present: Humanistic therapy emphasizes living in the present moment rather than being fixated on past experiences or future anxieties.
- Personal Responsibility: Clients are viewed as having the ability to take control of their lives and make choices that align with their values and goals.
Main Techniques:
- Unconditional Positive Regard: I offer complete acceptance of the client, fostering a safe space for exploration.
- Empathy: I work to understand and reflect the client’s emotions deeply.
- Congruence: I am genuine and transparent in my interactions with clients.
Existential Therapy
Existential therapy focuses on deeper questions about life, meaning, and existence. It encourages clients to face their anxieties about freedom, isolation, death, and meaninglessness while recognizing their ability to create purpose and make choices in an uncertain world.
Key Principles:
- Freedom and Responsibility: Existential therapists believe that individuals are free to make choices, but this freedom comes with the burden of responsibility.
- Search for Meaning: Clients are encouraged to confront life’s existential questions (e.g., “Why am I here?” or “What is the meaning of life?”) and find personal meaning and purpose.
- Existential Anxiety: Awareness of life’s uncertainties, such as death and isolation, creates anxiety. Rather than avoiding this anxiety, existential therapy helps individuals confront and work through it.
- Authenticity: Clients are encouraged to live authentically, in line with their true values and desires, rather than conforming to societal pressures.
Main Techniques:
- Confronting Existential Issues: I guide clients through discussions of life, death, freedom, and isolation.
- Phenomenological Approach: I focus on understanding the client’s subjective world experience.
- Meaning-Making: Helping clients discover or create meaning in life, even in difficult or painful experiences.
Similarities Between Humanistic and Existential Therapies:
- Focus on the Individual: Existential humanistic therapy is client-centered, valuing personal experience and individual perspectives.
- Personal Growth: Existential humanistic therapy fosters self-awareness, self-acceptance, and personal responsibility.
- Present Focus: Existential humanistic therapy prioritizes the present moment and helps clients make active choices to shape their future.
- Therapeutic Relationship: Existential humanistic therapy stresses the importance of a strong, trusting, and non-judgmental therapeutic relationship.
Differences:
- Philosophical Roots:
- Humanistic therapy is rooted in a more optimistic view of human nature, where people are seen as inherently good and striving for growth.
- Existential therapy is based on existential philosophy, which acknowledges the inherent struggles of human existence, such as anxiety, isolation, and death.
- Focus on Meaning:
- Humanistic therapy focuses more on self-actualization and personal fulfillment.
- Existential therapy focuses on finding meaning in the face of existential dilemmas.
- View of Anxiety:
- Humanistic therapy tends to see anxiety as a result of blocked personal growth or unfulfilled potential.
- Existential therapy views anxiety as an inherent part of being human, especially in relation to freedom, death, and isolation.
Humanistic Existential Therapy Overview
The following is what humanistic existential therapy involves in practice.
Humanistic Psychology Elements:
- Self-Actualization: Based on the work of Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, humanistic therapy emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and fulfilling one’s potential.
- Unconditional Positive Regard: This is a central tenet, especially in Carl Rogers’ client-centered therapy, where therapists offer empathy, acceptance, and nonjudgmental support.
- Focus on the Present: Humanistic therapy encourages clients to focus on their current experiences rather than being overly preoccupied with the past or future.
Existential Psychology Elements:
- Freedom and Responsibility: Existential therapy, inspired by thinkers like Viktor Frankl, Rollo May, and Irvin Yalom, emphasizes individuals’ freedom to make choices and the accompanying responsibility.
- Search for Meaning: This approach delves into questions about life, death, meaning, and purpose. It asks clients to confront these questions and find their own answers.
- Dealing with Anxiety: Deep anxiety, stemming from awareness of life’s uncertainties and limitations, is seen as a natural part of life. The therapy helps individuals understand and navigate this anxiety rather than avoid it.
Main Goals of Humanistic Existential Therapy
- Authenticity: Existential humanistic therapy helps individuals live authentically and embrace their true selves.
- Empowerment through Choice: It encourages individuals to recognize their freedom and responsibility in shaping their lives.
- Meaning-Making: This involves assisting individuals in finding or creating meaning, especially when confronted with life’s existential challenges such as death, isolation, freedom, and meaninglessness.
Existential Humanistic Therapy Techniques
- Phenomenological Exploration: This technique involves exploring the client’s subjective experience without judgment or preconceived notions.
- Existential Dialogue: Therapist and client engage in a dialogue that emphasizes understanding the client’s worldview and their place in the world.
- Reflection and Self-Inquiry: Clients are encouraged to reflect on their thoughts, values, and emotions to gain deeper self-understanding.
Humanistic Existential Therapy is beneficial for clients facing issues of identity, life transitions, meaning, or deep personal crises. It’s a flexible, holistic approach that is tailored to the individual rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all method.
Existential Humanistic Therapy Example
Here’s an example of how Humanistic Existential Therapy might work in practice, combining elements from both humanistic and existential therapies.
Scenario:
A client, Sarah, is a 35-year-old professional who feels unfulfilled despite having a successful career. She expresses feelings of emptiness, lack of meaning in life, and growing anxiety about the passage of time. She frequently questions her purpose and struggles with deep concerns about death, freedom, and whether her life has any real significance.
Humanistic Existential Therapy Session Example
Initial Conversation (Existential Exploration):
- Me: “It sounds like you’ve been thinking a lot about what your life means and whether you’re living it in a way that feels right for you. Can you tell me more about what has been coming up for you recently?”
- Sarah: “Yes, I’ve achieved a lot, but I don’t feel happy. I keep wondering if I’m wasting time or missing out on something more meaningful. And then I get anxious, thinking about how fast life is passing me by.”
Deep Themes:
- Freedom and Responsibility: I explore Sarah’s freedom to make choices about her life. We discuss the weight of this freedom and the responsibility she feels to live authentically.
- Existential Anxiety: Sarah’s anxiety about time and meaning is a central theme. I work to normalize this anxiety as a part of the human condition, exploring how acknowledging the inevitability of death can motivate her to live a more meaningful life.
Therapist’s Existential Intervention:
- Me: “It sounds like you’re feeling a sense of urgency to find more meaning. This anxiety you’re feeling about time passing, while uncomfortable, can also be an invitation to look at what really matters to you and what you want to create with the time you have. What would it look like for you to live in a more authentic way?”
Humanistic Elements:
- Empathy and Unconditional Positive Regard: I listen without judgment and validate Sarah’s feelings. I show deep empathy for her struggle, creating a safe, supportive space where Sarah feels accepted.
- Focus on Self-Actualization: I encourage Sarah to explore her strengths, desires, and values. I help her identify aspects of her life where she feels fulfilled and areas where she may be compromising her true self.
Humanistic Exploration:
- Me: “You’ve mentioned that your career has been successful, but it seems like something is missing for you. What are the things that truly light you up, the things that make you feel like you’re living in alignment with your values?”
- Sarah: “I love working with people and being creative. But lately, I’ve been spending so much time on administrative tasks that I’ve lost touch with that part of my work.”
Self-Actualization and Empowerment:
- Me: “It sounds like reconnecting with that creative side of yourself could bring you more joy and fulfillment. What steps could you take to start incorporating more of that into your life?”
- Sarah: “Maybe I could take on a project that lets me be more hands-on with the creative process. And outside of work, I’ve always wanted to take art classes, but I keep putting it off.”
Conclusion of the Session:
- Me: “It seems like there’s an opportunity here to bring more of what you love into your life—both in and out of work. As we continue exploring together, let’s look at how you can make choices that align with what truly matters to you, and how to navigate the fear that comes up around that.”
- Sarah: “I think that could help. I want to feel like I’m not just going through the motions but actually living in a way that means something to me.”
Humanistic Existential Therapy Analysis and Outcome
- Existential Themes: I helped Sarah face her anxiety about time and meaning, guiding her to reflect on the importance of living authentically. By confronting these existential concerns, Sarah begins to see her anxiety not as a burden but as a signal to make meaningful changes.
- Humanistic Elements: My empathy and positive regard create a safe environment for Sarah to explore her feelings. We emphasize Sarah’s strengths and desires, encouraging her to make choices that align with her true self, which is a core aspect of self-actualization.
Over time, through existential humanistic therapy, Sarah may come to feel more empowered to make choices that align with her values, healthily confront her deepest concerns, and create a life that feels more meaningful and fulfilling.
Summary and My Work
I offer humanistic and existential therapies as separate approaches or as a mixed approach called existential humanistic therapy. This approach can help if, despite many aspects of life going quite well, it is not all adding up to a deep sense of fulfillment and contentment. It can also be helpful if you have significant and deep life concerns that are hard to shake.
Learn More About Humanistic Existential Therapy
For more information about how an existential humanistic therapy approach might work for you or a loved one, or general information about humanistic and existential therapies, please feel free to contact me or schedule a consultation anytime.
