In the simplest of terms, existential therapy that embraces a person’s potential and is a very powerful yet realistic approach that recognizes human limitations. This therapy is common in experiential, humanistic, psychodynamic, and relational approaches to addiction treatment and recovery therapies. Additionally, it is fundamentally different and unlike any other type of rehab therapy. Whereas psychotherapies are therapies for life and a remedy for the problems involved in human living, this is a therapy for human existence.

Interestingly enough, there are many psychotherapists today who view existential therapy as a form of psychotherapy. However, it does act as a variety of psychotherapy in that it addresses the perspectives involved with life’s various problems. The bottom line is that this therapy is not for living. It is the therapy for existence and although this sounds confusing, this therapy “un-reverses” any existential reverses. It enables us to get in touch with many aspects of our existence.

Concerns and goals of existential therapy

Existential therapy  is concerned with key aspects of human existence including:

• awareness of an individual’s existence
• awareness of how limited the human lifespan is
• freedom of the individual to make choices
• threats of meaninglessness

This therapy deals with and understands that every individual is responsible for creating their own lives and that they are given the freedom to choose how they are going to respond to every moment of their existence.

There are a number of goals that existential therapy attempts to achieve. However, the following are the 5 most significant:

• being responsible for decisions
• coping with anxiety by examining what is at the root of individual anxieties
• finding personal meaning and truth
• increasing authentic living and self awareness
• living in the present by experiencing life and living each moment to the fullest

The most effective use of existential therapy applies to the client being able to access their own emotional experiences or overcome certain obstacles that facilitates their continuation of or initial entry into the recovery stage of their rehab therapy.

The major focus of existential therapy

The primary focus involved with existential therapy is that an individual’s existence is not static, it is dynamic and continually changing. We are constantly becoming, evolving, and recreating while at the same time discovering and trying to understand our own existence. According to the existential approach, there are 6 basic assumptions of the human condition which include:

• anxiety one of life’s conditions
• capacity for self awareness
• creation of personal identities
• establishing meaningful relationships with other individuals
• freedom and responsibility
• search for personal goals, meaning, purpose, and values

The therapy teaches you that anxiety is an internalized radar signal or trigger which signals when we are capable and ready of implementing changes in our lives.

If you would like more information regarding existential therapy and how it can help you, please contact the Delray Recovery Center today.