Confronting Life’s Big Questions

Understanding Existential Psychotherapy.

Exploring Life's Biggest Questions

Existential psychotherapy is a deep and thought-provoking approach to therapy that helps individuals explore life’s most fundamental questions. Whether it's pondering your values, grappling with the idea of purpose, or navigating life's inevitable challenges, this type of therapy encourages you to explore life’s "ultimate concerns". In this article, we’ll take a look at two key figures in existential therapy—Emmy van Deurzen and Irvin Yalom—and how their approaches can guide people through personal growth by confronting life's most profound realities.

What is Existential Psychotherapy?

At its core, existential psychotherapy is all about exploring the human experience, with a focus on four primary concerns: death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness. It’s rooted in existential philosophy and seeks to help people face these unavoidable parts of life in a way that feels authentic to them.

Irvin Yalom’s Take on Existential Therapy

Irvin Yalom is one of the most influential voices in existential therapy, and he believes that we can live more meaningful lives by confronting life’s ultimate concerns:

• Death: Yalom suggests that facing the reality of death helps us appreciate life more fully. By acknowledging our mortality, we can live with more purpose and intention.

• Freedom: With freedom comes responsibility. In existential therapy, you explore the idea that we’re responsible for creating our lives through our choices—there’s no pre-determined path.

• Isolation: Even though we have relationships with others, existential therapy examines how we’re ultimately alone in our experiences. Facing this truth can help us form deeper, more genuine connections.

• Meaninglessness: In a world without inherent meaning, existential therapy encourages individuals to create their own sense of purpose and meaning. According to Yalom, this search is crucial for psychological well-being.

Emmy van Deurzen’s Approach: Four Dimensions of Life

Another key figure in existential therapy, Emmy van Deurzen, offers a slightly different lens. She focuses on the idea that our existence spans across four dimensions:

• Physical Dimension: This involves how we relate to our bodies, health, and the natural world around us.

• Social Dimension: Here, the focus is on how we interact with others—our relationships, roles, and social responsibilities.

• Personal Dimension: This is all about your relationship with yourself. Who are you, what do you value, and what do you believe in?

• Spiritual Dimension: This doesn’t necessarily mean religious, but it’s about exploring the bigger picture—what gives your life meaning and purpose?

How Does Existential Therapy Compare to Other Approaches?

One common comparison is with person-centred therapy, a more optimistic approach developed by Carl Rogers. While existential therapy challenges clients to face life’s toughest realities, person-centred therapy focuses on fostering personal growth through empathy and positive support. Both approaches aim to help clients live more authentic lives, but existential therapy is more about exploring the deeper questions that shape our existence.

The Journey of Existential Therapy

Existential therapy invites you to dig deep and reflect on your life’s position in the face of death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness. It’s a chance to transform anxiety into personal growth by rethinking your values, beliefs, and purpose. Through this process, individuals are often able to live more fully, becoming more self-aware, and aligned with who they truly are.

By encouraging clients to confront these existential realities, both van Deurzen and Yalom believe we can lead more meaningful, engaged lives. Whether it’s through examining our fears about death or understanding our sense of isolation, existential therapy provides a path toward living authentically and with purpose.

Conclusion: Finding Meaning Through Existential Therapy

Existential therapy offers a unique way to explore the big, often daunting questions in life. By facing the realities of death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness, individuals can discover greater clarity, purpose, and personal growth. The insights from thinkers like Yalom and van Deurzen give both therapists and clients powerful tools to navigate the challenges of life while embracing the potential for authentic living and deep self-awareness.

Sources

Yalom, I. D. (1980). Existential Psychotherapy. Basic Books.

Van Deurzen, E. (2012). Existential Counselling and Psychotherapy in Practice (3rd ed.). Sage Publications Ltd.

Cooper, M. (2003). Existential Therapies. Sage Publications Ltd.

Mearns, D., Thorne, B., & McLeod, J. (2013). Person-Centred Counselling in Action (4th ed.). Sage Publications Ltd.