Existential psychotherapy: the solution to all problems lies in understanding the meaning of existence

In the early 40s. In the 19th century, a new direction in philosophy appeared - existentialism. The founder was the young Danish philosopher, writer and psychologist Søren Óbut Kierkegaard. At the center of the teaching is an original, unique personality who, in his own way, different from others, perceives the world around him, passing it through himself. Each person is viewed through the psychological situation in which he finds himself at a certain moment and which captures the emotional and spiritual depth of his problems. Later the ideas were picked up by such great minds as Nietzsche, Sartre, Heidegger.

At the beginning of the 20th century, existential psychotherapy appeared, which owes its birth to this philosophical trend. Its goal is to help everyone find the meaning of existence and find their place. This solves most problems not only mental, but also physiological.

What it is

Today, existential psychotherapy is a direction that relieves people from suffering (both mental and physical) through understanding their own life, values, and true purpose. If at the time of its inception it was only a branch of the philosophy of existentialism, now it is an independent, fairly popular movement that shows excellent results and has proven its effectiveness and consistency over 100 years of practice.

This direction is often called existential-humanistic, since it is entirely centered on the individual and his problems. Moreover, each individual case is considered unique, unlike all others. Accordingly, the line of treatment cannot be typical or schematic. Each time, therapy methods are selected anew, built in a completely different logic and system to help a specific person.

Awakening a sense of responsibility for your decisions

When this problem arises, it will be effective to identify ways of refusing responsibility (using confrontation interviews, paradoxical statements, etc.). Therapy aimed at awakening responsibility, like all existential therapy, excludes the directive style - because in this case there is a great danger of transferring responsibility to the therapist - another trick of the client. Therapy methods should be aimed at strengthening volitional qualities (or awakening them); it is important to take into account personal potential, build goals and desires in order to then translate them into reality, thinking about how this can be done. If there are “no” desires, there is work to be done to find oneself, to feel the client’s taste for life.

Criticism

Every coin has two sides, and the existential-humanistic direction in psychotherapy is often criticized. The most vulnerable are 4 moments.

The first is many directions and branches. Sometimes they deviate too far from the basic principles of true existential psychotherapy, merge with others, and create separate movements and schools.

The second is the lack of a clear treatment strategy. Each time, based on the situation, it changes, adapting to the client.

Third, counseling for each new client should not be based on previous experience. An existential psychotherapist has no right to draw analogies with other cases from practice.

And the last thing for which critics especially often castigate existential psychotherapy is the lack of humanism, no matter how paradoxical it may sound. The client must be willing to rethink the essence of his being through the key moments of pain that he has experienced. In practice, it turns out that not everyone is able to do this. Sometimes it ends with an exacerbation of psychotrauma.

Origin of name. The term comes from the Latin word "existentia", which translates as "existence". It reflects the essence of the direction in both philosophy and psychotherapy. To know the meaning of one’s existence is the goal of every person, which will help get rid of any problems.

Subject and tasks

Existentialism in psychology is a separate direction that studies the individual as a unique creation. At the same time, human life is described as a series of unique events. The prerequisites for the emergence of this branch in psychological science appeared 200 years ago.

It is impossible to single out one position in order to understand what the essence of the existential direction is. Classical psychology studies phenomena that can be explained. The main task of the existential field is to explore phenomena that go beyond the predictable, deterministic.

Key points:

1. The main mental reality is considered to be a person’s openness to the world.
2. People have will and freedom, which allows them to independently make choices regarding their intentions and goals.
3. Personality is an active entity with many creative principles.
4. Human nature dictates the need for constant self-disclosure.
5. If researchers study the life of an individual subject, they must consider him as a whole entity.

Main representatives

Existential psychotherapy is represented by outstanding personalities, whose works are still bestsellers, and their names are known far beyond the boundaries of the field.

Karl Theodor Jaspers (1883-1969)

German philosopher, psychologist and psychiatrist. He criticized the diagnostic criteria and methods of clinical psychiatry. He formulated a new task for his colleagues - to take the human essence beyond the boundaries and framework that society dictates to it and with which it surrounds itself.

Ludwig Binswanger (1881-1966)

Swiss psychiatrist. The first theorist of existential psychotherapy as an empirical science working within the framework of the anthropological approach to the human personality. And at the same time, he was her first practitioner: based on his own teaching, he successfully cured one of the patients from anorexia neurotic and described this case in detail.

Medard Boss (1903-1990)

Swiss psychiatrist and psychologist, founder of design analysis. The main idea of ​​the teaching is that people do not exist separately from the world, but it does not exist separately from them. Only man reveals—illuminates—the world. Dasein is that very “illuminating” thing that brings things “to the light.” Based on this concept, psychopathology is living in darkness as a conscious choice of the patient. Accordingly, the goal of existential psychotherapy is to return him to the light.

Ronald David Laing (1927-1989)

Scottish psychiatrist. The leading ideologist of anti-psychiatry, to which he did not count himself. His views on methods of treating psychopathologies were formed under the influence of existentialism and ran counter to generally accepted principles of psychiatry. He considered the behavior of any patient (even in the most advanced cases) as an expression of personal freedom, which has every right to exist.

Viktor Emil Frankl (1905-1997)

Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, psychologist. The creator of logotherapy - a narrow direction in existential psychotherapy. He believed that understanding the meaning of life and an objective look at what is happening (no matter how terrible it is) helps not only to overcome all difficulties, but also to survive.

Rollo May (1909-1994)

American psychologist, psychotherapist. When working with clients, he encouraged them to focus on the main problems of existence: guilt and anxiety, freedom and restrictions, good and evil, responsibility and fate, love and violence. The work “Love and Will” became a national bestseller.

Alice Holzhey-Kuntz (1943)

Swiss psychotherapist, leading existential analyst of our time, Ph.D. Being co-editor of Binswanger and favorite student of Medard Boss, she partially deviated from their views. Represents a completely new analytical movement: it reconciles Freud's psychoanalysis with existential foundations.

James Bugental (1915-2008)

American psychologist, psychotherapist. It was he who, in response to criticism of existential psychotherapy about the lack of a clear strategy, formulated 5 basic principles of this direction.

Irvin Yalom (1931)

American doctor of medicine, psychotherapist, professor of psychiatry. Opponent of a formal approach to treatment without taking into account individuality. He proposes to “invent” a new psychotherapy for each client - based on a unique story that is not similar to others. In his opinion, existential therapy should be built on interpersonal relationships “here and now”, on mutual revelations between the doctor and the patient. Many works are devoted to overcoming the fear of death.

Alfried Langle (1951)

Austrian psychologist, psychotherapist. Thanks to him, existential-analytical psychotherapy appeared, which today enjoys incredible success. He criticizes traditional methods of treating any disease (physical and mental) for the fact that they only relieve the symptom without delving into the cause. Considers the manifestations of the disease as a stimulus for self-reflection. Invites patients to think about their attitude to life, reconsider priorities, change and thereby heal. Considers the highest value to be the comprehension of the deep spiritual essence of oneself and other people. Heads the Association of Existential-Analytical Psychologists and Psychotherapists.

Loss of meaning in life

Such problems often arise in adolescence - or later, at turning points. Here it is important to stimulate the client’s self-expression, to shift the angle of perception from a focus on internal processes to the outside in order to gain meaning (sometimes a narrowed perception drives a person into a dead end). This is facilitated by visits to orphanages, hospices, volunteer work, and any appeal to someone else’s, even more dramatic, experience. Often a person who feels abandoned and lonely, useless to anyone, brightens simply from the eyes with which his children, deprived of parental care, greet and see him off, and realizes his own importance, relevance, and need on a non-verbal level.

It will also be important in the therapy process to think together about different aspects of events, taking into account V. Frankl’s principle: all events are neutral, and only a person colors them in light or dark tones. Flexibility of thinking is an important quality both in therapy and during the patient’s subsequent self-help. If we take as a postulate the belief that there is no only bad or unambiguously good in life, this in itself will have an important therapeutic effect.

And it is quite possible that the most important thing in existential therapy is what Irvin Yalom spoke about - the manifestation of participation in the client, involvement in his life and the meanings with which it is filled. Attitude therapy is a powerful weapon in the hands of a psychologist. Who knows, maybe this is the client’s last opportunity to be unconditionally accepted and heard.

Basic principles

The fundamental principles that guide existential-humanistic psychotherapy (according to James Bugental) are centered around a person who:

• represents a complete being, but much more than all its components;
• exists in its own unique context;
• understands himself in relationships with others;
• has the right to choose, but is responsible for every step;
• intentional - seeks meaning, determines values, focuses on priorities.

If a psychotherapist is guided by these principles in his work with clients, he acts within the framework of existential psychotherapy. Alfried Langlet wrote a practical guide, clarifying Bugental's provisions. It includes only 4 steps. To get rid of psychopathologies of any kind, a person only needs to go through 4 levels of motivation (under the close supervision and control of a specialist).

Level 1

Ask yourself the question: “Can I exist in this world?” The most difficult step. You need to understand and accept your essence as it is, with all its fears and experiences, problems and difficulties. Not everyone can stand meeting with themselves, not covered by lies and self-deception.

Level 2

Question: “Do I like living?” You need to find positive aspects in your existence, no matter how difficult it may be.

Level 3

Question: “Do I have the right to be like this?” A fairly deep self-reflection of thoughts and actions is carried out. The client either revises his own values ​​or adjusts the previous system of personal standards. But in any case, the psychotherapist leads to the idea that every person has the right to be who he is, without being guided by the opinions of society and stereotypes.

Level 4

Question: “What should I do?” Working with the future. The goals are to get involved in life, implement your ideas and plans, live according to your own values, and make a plan for the near future.

Despite the existence of many directions within the framework of existential psychotherapy, most of them are guided by the above-mentioned provisions of Bugental and the described system of motivations by Langlet. Most often, they undergo quite in-depth correction, based on the individual characteristics of the client, but the essence remains the same - through comprehension of the essence of one’s being, to cope with any problems.

Therapy for fear of death

This basic fear is inherent in any biological creature - at least at the level of instincts. In existential therapy, it all begins with his recognition and acceptance of the inevitability of the fact of his death.

In this sense, it is effective to draw a line of life and determine your current segment at the moment, a detailed representation of your death with the creation of an obituary or inscription on the grave (sometimes these inscriptions can be made deliberately paradoxical).

Group therapy consisting of healthy and sick people or in groups of a homogeneous type (for example, cancer patients, as described by I. Yalom) has its effect.

An important conclusion from the research of I. Yalom, who interviewed dozens of people doomed to death, was the understanding that those who actively, variedly, and lived their lives to the fullest are less afraid of death. People who have allowed themselves little, who have denied themselves the fulfillment of their big and small desires, are more afraid of death - in fact, the fear of death means regret about an unlived life. Therefore, an important point in therapy will be the awareness of what right now gives a person the strength to live, causes him sincere joy - and building his life so that there is always a place for this.

A technique associated with reducing susceptibility to death (desensitization) has proven itself well - frequent speaking, imagining, rehearsing one’s own death.

Methods, techniques, techniques

It is impossible to clearly name the methods of existential psychotherapy, since for each new client the specialist “invents” a special approach to treatment. Therefore, in her arsenal there is a wide selection of techniques and techniques with the help of which a person is brought to light from the dark depths of his own consciousness. As a rule, they are borrowed from other areas:

• manifestation of creative potential through art therapy techniques (depending on the client’s abilities);
• transference and countertransference from Gestalt therapy (work in a team of a client and an existential psychotherapist);
• journaling, distancing, empirical experiments, reappraisal, decentering, decatastrophizing, targeted repetition, procrastination - methods of cognitive therapy;
• role-playing training aimed at acting out and understanding a problem situation from within - from behavioral psychotherapy;
• question-and-answer technique, conversation, pronunciation - the basis of a positive direction;
• bioenergetic psychoanalysis, biodynamics, insight therapy are borrowed from body-oriented psychotherapy.

This is not the entire list of methods and techniques. Despite the fact that 90% of the tools are borrowed from other directions, the arsenal also has its own techniques that allow you to work with the basic concepts of existentialism.

Techniques for working with death awareness:

• “permission to endure” - open discussion of topics about death;
• defense mechanisms - correction of naive views on death;
• dream analysis;
• constant but correct reminders of the fragility of existence;
• deepening awareness of the inevitability of death through auxiliary techniques (writing your own obituary, detailed presentation of your funeral);
• decreased sensitivity to the fear of death, which is given in doses at sessions;
• semantic revaluation of death, search for positive aspects in it.

Techniques for working with personal freedom of choice and responsibility for it:

• admitting one's own guilt;
• awareness of shirking responsibility;
• overcoming boundaries and prohibitions;
• working with conscience, feelings of guilt for making the wrong choice;
• releasing one's own desires;
• decision-making facilitation: every action is preceded by a choice.

Techniques for working with insulation:

• an independently made decision to completely isolate yourself from communication for a while;
• overcoming the contradiction between the need for communication and existential isolation;
• learning the “language of intimacy” - developing automatic skills for expressing feelings;
• establishing a trusting relationship between client and psychotherapist.

Techniques for working with the lack of meaning of being:

• redefining the problem of meaninglessness;
• overcoming anxiety;
• involvement in life;
• establishing and maintaining authentic relationships.

Depending on the identified problem, the psychotherapist may choose a specific block of techniques, or may sequentially include individual moments from them in sessions.

Existential psychology today

Existential therapy is gradually gaining recognition. Relevant specialists practice in 48 countries around the world, and every year the number of people with existential disorders is only growing.

In Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl called this process an existential vacuum. He believed that the conveniences of the Industrial Revolution had given people a harmful excess of free time, making their lives aimless, boring and sad. It is the existential vacuum, according to Frankl, that underlies depression, aggression and various kinds of addictions.

Modern existential psychotherapists explain the occurrence of the psychological problems listed above by the limited ability to make meaningful and independent decisions about how to live. In this case, the existential approach is aimed at increasing self-awareness and self-understanding.

Therapists help a person find meaning in life by overcoming anxiety, teach them to think and act responsibly, direct attention inward, and work with negative attitudes rather than fight external forces such as social pressure and disapproval. Promoting creativity, love, authenticity and free will are the principles through which existential psychotherapists help people move towards transformation.

Existential psychology is often perceived as morbid, pessimistic, impractical and mystical. It's a delusion. The approach she takes is extremely practical, specific and flexible. It can be formulated as follows: come to terms with reality without denying, avoiding or sugar-coating it, and remember that your choices determine your destiny.

Friends, don’t stop moving, act and look for meaning! On this path, we wish you courage, perseverance and awareness.

We also recommend reading:

• Storytelling
• Genetic psychology
• Dan Baker's Happiness Model
• Positive psychology
• Psychology of Advertising
• Narrative therapy
• The Foundation for Creating a Mindful Life
• Cognitive economics: the science of thinking
• Hedonism as a way to improve life
• Psychology of fear
• One, two, three, four, five - it’s time to die, or the Kübler-Ross model of grief

Key words: 1Cognitive science, 1Self-knowledge

BODY-ORIENTED PSYCHOTHERAPY

In this method, it is believed that our unprocessed emotions and suppressed experiences remain imprints in our body in the form of muscle clamps.
Simply put, our body “records” everything that happens to us. When we experience depressive moods or other anxious states, we, without realizing it, spend a huge part of ourselves and our energy (using muscle tension, among other things) to maintain defense mechanisms that protect us from real or imagined dangers. The goal of therapy is through special exercises and massage:

1) relieve muscle tension and, so to speak, “split” the clamps;

2) understand and feel your body in a new way, feel how it reacts emotionally to the outside world and to your own thoughts.

ADVANTAGES OF THE METHOD With this method, it is NOT necessary to voice out loud an unpleasant traumatic experience. The session itself with a specialist is similar to working within the framework of a massage. The emotional uplift is felt immediately, because... the body is affected.

FEATURE OF THE METHOD

In its pure form it cannot completely relieve the disorder, therefore, in cases of moderate and severe severity (depression), as well as to achieve long-term results, it is used in combination with other methods.

WHO IS IT SUITABLE FOR?

It is used for stress and conflict, for emotional burnout and chronic fatigue, for the treatment of postpartum depression, for correction of weight and eating behavior, and for psychosomatic diseases. It is also often used as part of complex therapy; it helps with various types of neuroses (hysterical, hypochondriacal, somatized neurosis, neurasthenia, obsessive-compulsive neurosis).

HYPNOTHERAPY

A psychotherapeutic technique that uses a hypnotic state for therapeutic purposes. In a hypnotic state, the patient is completely relaxed, but at the same time consciousness remains present and the person is concentrated on a specific problem or situation.

Important! This technique has nothing in common with various well-known staged shows about hypnosis!

ADVANTAGES OF THE TECHNIQUE

Positive improvements are felt after the first sessions.

FEATURE OF THE METHOD

Contraindicated for pregnant women, people suffering from epilepsy, people with psychiatric diagnoses (schizophrenia, etc.), when taking psychotropic drugs, as well as people under the influence of alcohol.

WHO IS IT SUITABLE FOR?

Effective for phobias, various types of addictions (addiction to alcohol, cigarettes), eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia), post-traumatic syndromes, psychosomatics (migraines, allergies, etc.), insomnia, sexual disorders. It is also recommended for general loss of strength, depression, and stressful conditions as part of complex therapy.

Interaction with other areas and sciences

Existential psychology is closely intertwined with other sciences:

• philosophy;
• classical psychology;
• sociology;
• psychotherapy.

The development of these sciences influences the emergence of new theories of existential psychology.

Psychological science is multifaceted and consists of many areas, among which existential psychology is distinguished. It was based on the teachings of philosophy, which are closely intertwined with psychological theories.

SYMBOLDRAMA

A method that, with the help of certain images specified by the psychotherapist, helps to “pull out” from our unconscious those conflicts and problems that caused the condition that requires correction. The session itself usually includes several stages: a preliminary conversation with a psychotherapist, a relaxation procedure, then directly working with the image under the supervision of a doctor and a final conversation.

ADVANTAGES OF THE METHOD Combines well with other methods. Suitable for use with children. In addition, relaxation and pleasant images have an overall beneficial effect on a person’s emotional state.

WHO IS IT SUITABLE FOR?

Great for phobias (fears of the dark, heights, closed spaces and others). It works well for nervous tension, chronic fatigue syndrome, and insomnia. Used for depression, stress and other anxiety disorders. Helps increase self-esteem and cope with persistent failures.

FAMILY PSYCHOTHERAPY

Family therapy is a branch of psychotherapy that specializes in problems in family relationships. All work is based on the premise that the problem is within the family as a whole, and not with an individual within the family. This means that you should not expect your therapist to resolve your conflict with the phrase “you are right and you are wrong.” During the conversation, the therapist clarifies the causes of the conflict or problem, helps answer questions and find ways to change the functioning of the system as a whole.

Session format: conversation, various exercises, homework.

ADVANTAGES OF THE METHOD The essence of the work of family psychotherapy is working with a whole system of relationships, situations and individuals, and not with the problem and request of one specific person, as happens in the case of personal sessions. This is what helps achieve results.

FEATURE OF THE METHOD

Get ready to work and dive. No one but yourself will save your family without your desire.

WHO IS IT SUITABLE FOR? Treason. This situation is difficult for both partners to bear. And even in the case when the spouses decide to “forgive and forget,” the residue and consequences still remain in the family. Constant protracted conflicts. You are close to divorce, but the final decision has not yet been made. Sexual disharmony in a couple.