Existential-Humanistic Approach

Existential-
Humanistic
Approach
 The third force in Psychology – the existential-
humanistic approach
 The existential-humanistic approach to counselling is
Introduction an amalgamation of existential and humanistic schools
of thought
 It gives to client’s subjective experiences and their
personhood, rather than symptoms; and the focus on
growth of clients rather than pathology
Highlights  All problems are seen as originating from diminished
ability of the client to make authentic, meaningful, and
of this self- directed choices in life
Approach  Hence, the overall goal of therapy is to increase the
individual’s self-awareness, thereby empowering
him/her to make healthy and appropriate choices
 responsibility and freedom to
make choices
 owning the choices made
Major  self-acceptance
themes of  a constant movement towards
this self-actualization and growth
approach  Humanistic theories can include
existential, person-centred and
gestalt theories
 According to Frankl, one of the goals that people are
striving towards is having meaning in life, referred to as
will to meaning.
 Frankl categorized meaning in life in three different
Viktor ways viz.
Frankl  One’s accomplishments
 Different experiences with the world
 Meaning that comes from the individual’s approach to
suffering, and the things that cannot be changed
 Rollo May saw people living in the world of current
experiences and finally being accountable for who they
become
 May related this healthy state to what he called healthy
individualism
 Healthy
Rollo May individualism involves
competitiveness, and assertiveness
self-reliance,
 May considered another kind of individualism known

as unhealthy individualism. Unhealthy individualism
involves severe mental health issues for individuals due
to having no sense of community
 With the motivation to help people suffering
View of from existential crises like meaninglessness
Human and alienation
 The existential tradition seeks to strike a
Nature - balance between recognizing the limits of
Existential human existence spectrum to the limitless
Psychology possibilities and potentials of human life on
the other
 Self awareness
 Choice and responsibility
Basic  Humans have the basic need to maintain their
Dimensions uniqueness and individuality
of Human  There is an ongoing search for meaning,
Nature purpose, values and goals in our lives
 Experiencing existential anxiety
 Death is inevitable
• The main therapeutic goal of existential
therapy is to help the client become self aware
and embrace their authentic self
• The goals of existential therapy are varied,
Therapeutic with the crux being helping the client move
Goal of towards greater acceptance of self and
Existential situation, becoming more aware, exercising
choice and creating their own destiny
Therapy
• Existential therapy is primarily an exploratory
approach, where there is exploration of
experiences pertaining to choice, identity,
love, death and freedom
 Understanding the subjective world of the
client is the primary role of an existential
counselor
 The focus is on creating caring and intimate
relationships with clients
Role of the  The counselor invites clients to become self-
aware, for only when a person is self-aware
Counselor can s/he accept and live life responsibly
 The counselor in their own authentic way of
relating to the client creates space for
exploration and experimentation, and
encourages them to do the same in real life
situations too, outside of therapy
 There is an active use of reflection and
exploration of the self in the world
Client’s  Clients experience diverse shades of emotions
experience from fear to anger, joy, sadness to excitement
in therapy  Translating their realizations into action is a
mark of effective therapy
 ‘logo therapy’ which emphasizes on finding
meaning in life
Techniques  meaning making is important which acts as a
/ Strategies motivational force for human to live
 Person-centered therapy uses a
PERSON- phenomenological approach, that is, focusing
CENTERED on the experiences of the person, how does
THERAPY the person experience herself and the world
around.
 Most people were inherently good, positive, constructive,
forward moving, and trustworthy
 PCT also believes that people try to work towards becoming
View of the best version of themselves (i.e. towards optimal

functioning) as opposed to working towards reducing their
Human in-built flaws (like defenses and cognitive distortions).
Nature  The need for individuals to actualize is considered the
fundamental human drive.
 Organismic valuing process is what is right or best for

individuals.
 The main focus is on the ‘self’ and finding a meaning
and purpose in life.
 How an individual perceives his/her self, their
What is Self experiences, and their interpretation of reality are
Actualization important.
 If there is incongruence between the perceived reality
and actual reality, it may result in maladjustment in
the individual
Cause of
psychological
distress
 A conscious learned self: A person is fed notions of what
she should be and how she should act.
 Society based actualization: When one tries to achieve a
goal of personal and professional growth, but it isn’t her
own goal, it is a goal that society forced upon them.
Some
 Conditions of worth: You will be valued only if you fulfill
terminology certain criteria
 When a person who is experiencing incongruence is put
in a threatening situation ((where the gap between the real
experience and self concept is very evident) the person will
experience anxiety, and become defensive.
 Increase a person's openness to experience
Goal of
 Decreasing the level of incongruence
person-
 Getting in touch with one’s organismic
centered valuing process (OVP)
therapy/cou  Striving for actualization
nseling  Developing as a fully functioning person
 Without a role
 Non-directive counselling
 A role of empathetic listener
Role of the
 The
Counselor counsellor shows care, respect,
acceptance and understanding towards the
client, while being genuine or authentic
 Client is an expert in her own life
 Self-exploration
Client’s  ‘Freedom’
experience  Self-disclosure
in therapy
 Rogers gave six conditions which had to be met in order for a
therapeutic intervention to work. He called these six the
necessary and sufficient conditions for the success of therapy.
 Therapist’s Congruence or Genuineness
Techniques  Unconditional Positive Regard

/ Strategies  Empathic understanding
 Client incongruence
 Client-counsellor relationship
 Client’s perception

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Existential-

 May considered another kind of individualism known

 PCT also believes that people try to work towards becoming

View of the best version of themselves (i.e. towards optimal

 Organismic valuing process is what is right or best for

 Therapist’s Congruence or Genuineness

Techniques  Unconditional Positive Regard

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