PERSON-CENTERED & EXISTENTIAL THERAPY 1

Self-Reflection Paper
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Self Reflection Paper

Psychology is the study of scientific behavior and mental processes (Bohart & Watson,

2011). This broad discipline seeks to analyze the human mind and study how people behave,

think, and feel. The relationship between nature and nurture is present in psychology, given that

many psychologists differ in their methods of counseling. Some prefer to focus on the biological

components of mental health, while others emphasize the importance of using therapeutic

methods to alleviate the environmental impacts of one’s well-being.

This paper aims to focus on the person-centered theory and existential theory. I will

explain how these two approaches relate to personal life experiences, which will help readers

understand how they can effectively handle their patients’ needs.

Person-Centered Theory

According to Carl Rogers, the person-centered theory is a non-directive approach where

clients openly speak about their feelings, while the therapist acts in a non-judgmental manner

(Elliot, 2013). This approach differs significantly from the behavioral theory and psychoanalytic

theory, which dominated psychology during the 19th century. Given that the person-centered

theory is non-directive in nature, it considers the client's dimension (Bohart & Watson, 2011).

This concept concerns the issue relating to equality in relationships between patients and

practitioners, as well as focuses on the patient’s positive health. Therefore, this theory enables

people to discover solutions to their own problems.

The person-centered theory is an outgrowth of the humanistic approach because it

focuses on how individuals perceive themselves consciously, rather than how counselors

interpret their unconscious mind. This theory sees human beings as having an innate tendency to
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develop to their fullest potential. However, this ability can be distorted by life experiences,

particularly one’s sense of values.

According to this theory, therapists try to understand individual life experiences from

their client's perspective (Elliott, 2013). In this case, I maintain a positive perspective towards

my client, while focusing on being genuine, showing compassion, and demonstrating patience.

These are critical components in helping clients understand their experiences, as a means of

healing. Therefore, this approach has helped me to reconnect my patients back with their inner

values and sense of self in an effort to place them on the path towards progress. In this case, the

therapist guides the client towards exploring their issues, feelings, beliefs, behaviors, and

worldviews. Simultaneously, the therapist remains neutral to allow the client to experience self-

awareness and achieve greater independence. I believe my value consists of genuine human

connection, patience, compassion, and understanding. This has influenced me to favor the

personal-centered approach.

As a self-actualization theory, the fulfillment of personal potential includes: being open

to new experiences, trust, curiosity, creativity, compassion, and the need to be with other people

and the desire to know and to be known to others, which includes having sociability character

(Elliott, 2013). This makes one feel emotionally and physically free from any kind of threat. To

achieve this kind of environment, the therapist must be a genuine facilitator while listening to the

client's experiences in a non-judgemental manner. This has helped clients discover their ability

and autonomy, enabling them to cope with current and future problems they may encounter.

The ability to facilitate growth is affected by several factors, which include low self-

esteem, little openness to new experiences, and lack of self-reliance. The person-centered theory

recognizes that a person's social environment and personal relationships can impact such factors.
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Therefore, the therapist ensures a neutral and comfortable environment to make their clients feel

at ease, authentic, and open to learning and understanding themselves more efficiently. This

places their clients in a position to understand how their past experiences have influenced how

they feel about themselves and their abilities. This similarly influences clients to make positive

life changes.

The personal-centered theory has enabled me to help my clients achieve a healthy

perspective towards change, improve self-expression, develop healthy relationships, trust

oneself, achieve better self-understanding and awareness, and come into consciousness with the

idealized self and actual self. I have achieved this because it helps the client realize what

resources and supports are available to help him/her work on the issue, build self-confidence, and

appreciate having options for a particular problem. Here, I treat the client as an expert of oneself.

Within a counseling setting, the person-centered approach aids all individuals, exclusive

of personal biases.. Many favor this approach because it allows patients to maintain control over

their session’s content and pace. This enables them to feel more confident, since the fear of

evaluation and/or assessment appears nonexistent. To this extent, patients are helped to

overcome the factors that have led to unhealthy living, such as depression, anxiety, mental health

concerns, stress, and grief. Solving such issues can help to improve clients' well-being and

reconnect them with their inner selves.

Given this overview, the person-centered approach emphasizes genuineness. This type of

approach enables the client to take the lead during discussions. Likewise, it does not focus on

boundaries, time, and techniques as would psychodynamic therapists. Since the client does most

of the talking, the therapist refrains from interfering with the client's self-discovery process.

Thus, an optimistic view of human nature must also be put into consideration. To this extent,
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knowing what is right for people is a fundamental component of successful person-centered

therapy.

Existential Theory

The existential theory helps people find the purpose and meaning of their lives. This

approach removes the fear of the unknown, such as death or securing employment (Langdridge,

2012). Likewise, this theory helps one make a good decision, alleviating feelings of anxiousness.

Given that this theory embraces personal freedom and choice, individuals can live purposeful

lives. Nietzsche and Kierkegaard, the pioneers of this theory, believe that self-respect and self-

awareness are key factors towards one’s own identity. They believed that personal evolution is

important because change is everlasting, and we must learn how to adapt to such changes.

As an existential therapist, I emphasize my clients' abilities to make rational choices so

they can develop to their fullest potential. This approach highlights the importance of self-

awareness, the purpose of rebirth, since the meaning of life keeps on changing, and achieving

personal identity through healthy relationships (Schneider, 2011). Therefore, I believe that

individuals are free to choose an alternative and are responsible for their own lives. In an

instance where the clients blame their problems on other people or circumstances, the therapist

will help them recognize how they allowed others to influence their thoughts and encourage

them to consider alternative options.

Existential therapy suggests that we are all alone; therefore, as human beings, we must

give life a sense of meaning, decide how we want to live, and learn to listen to ourselves.

Humans need to have a close relationship with others. As a therapist, I often challenge clients on

what they receive from their relationships and explain that unhealthy relationships should be

avoided.
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As clients explore the reason behind their intrapsychic conflicts and the decisions that

have led to those circumstances, they receive a lot of help through existential psychotherapy. The

behavioral and mental issues that can be alleviated with this approach include depression,

substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress from rape, military service, interpersonal violence,

and life-threatening experiences (Yalom & Josselson, 2014). Therefore, individuals who respond

well to treatment recognize the meaning and purpose of their lives and experience self-

awareness, self-respect, self-understanding, and motivation moving forward. Realizing and

understanding that they have control over their own recovery increases their likelihood of

viewing recovery as a therapeutic process.

Existential therapy can be incorporated in any form of psychotherapy and involves

several techniques such as listening, talking, answering questions, and engaging with the

therapist for several weeks or months (Yalom & Josselson, 2014). As a therapist, I focus on the

person as a whole instead of focusing on symptoms of the disorder. For instance, existential

therapy points out that patients struggling with addiction have to deal with anxiety and fear,

while suggesting the essential measures to prevent them from substance abuse (Langdridge,

2012). In this case, the therapist will work to help the patient handle anxiety moving forward.

This helps clients understand why anxiety and fear are so overwhelming. Oftentimes, I introduce

clients to experiences that enhance their well-being, including spiritual, courage, or even

relationship (Yalom & Josselson, 2014). Positive affirmation is essential and has helped me lead

the client in thoughtful responsibility, thus, solving substance misuse.

As a practitioner in existential therapy, my role is to ensure that clients are satisfied,

while working alongside them to explore their values, assumptions, and ideals. Therefore,

remaining neutral removes all forms of judgment and allows clients to speak from their own
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perspectives. Thus, I always enter the session with an open mind and remain ready to question

my clients' own biases and assumptions. My main focus is to understand individual assumptions

with clarity, even though they may not discover them. Human beings are connected with others,

though they believe that they are essentially alone in the world. Feeling alone explains why such

individuals feel concerned; thus, it is my responsibility to help them understand such feelings.

Individuals who experience several problems, symptoms, or challenges may find that the

existential approach is very helpful. It can be used with all people, regardless of age or status.

This form of therapy recognizes that we exist in an interrelation context with the world, hence

helping clients with diverse demographics and cultural backgrounds (Yalom & Josselson, 2014).

This approach is essential to people exploring their stance on life. It might not be appropriate in

some cases, especially to those who may need a more rapid remedy for painful and life-

threatening concerns. However, due to its fundamental concerns on a person's entire existence,

existential therapy can be a potentially effective approach to address the most severe reactions.

In conclusion, it is evident that some people experience anxiety or worry, more so when

they think about their future, meaning, and purpose in life. Contemplating this question without

good resolution may lead to an existential crisis (Gigerenzer, 2010). Thus, the purpose of

existential therapy is to help people reduce these feelings concerning their future. A therapist’s

role is to help their clients find the balance of being aware of their responsibility to their future

and not feeling overwhelmed from it. Although this theory is oftentimes criticized, many cultures

are unable to speak about anything else other than what concerns them internally. This is seen as

ignoring the social factors that cause human problems. This may also be a difficult approach for

those who prefer a more structured, problem-oriented approach than a more discussion-based

approach.
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References

Bohart, A. C., & Watson, J. C. (2011). Person-centered psychotherapy and related experiential

approaches. In S. B. Messer & A. S. Gurman (Eds.), Essential psychotherapies: Theory

and practice (p. 1–38). Guilford Press. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2011-14204-007

Elliott, R. (2013). Person-centered/experiential psychotherapy for anxiety difficulties: Theory,

research, and practice. Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies, 12(1), 16-32.

https://doi.org/10.1080/14779757.2013.767750

Gigerenzer, G. (2010). Personal reflections on theory and psychology. Theory & Psychology,

20(6), 733-743. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959354310378184

Langdridge, D. (2012). Existential counseling and psychotherapy. Sage.

Schneider, K. J. (Ed.). (2011). Existential-integrative psychotherapy: Guideposts to the core of

practice. Routledge.

Yalom, I., & Josselson, R. (2014). Existential psychotherapy. Current psychotherapies.