Existential Psychodynamic Research

Existential counseling is a humanistic theory focused on helping people achieve their full potential. It is a philosophical approach to counseling as it is loosely based upon existential philosophy and is not tied to any particular therapeutic technique. Existential therapy encourages individuals to develop a complete comprehension of their meaning of life and purpose of existence in this world. Most often a counselor will develop a personal style of counseling. Furthermore it is not tied to any particular counseling technique but does promote a therapeutic counseling relationship, which also promotes an individual’s personal growth and development. In so doing it will assist clients in resolving the inherent struggle of discovering their personal

Adler placed great importance upon decision making and through it, creating meaning in life. There are four main themes of existentialism, these are death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness. Each person must confront the personal fears and revelations inherent in the question of ‘What is the ultimate meaning of human existence?’ (Frankl, 1997). It is the belief of existential therapists that without resolving these ultimate questions results in the creation of an ‘existential vacuum’ that leads to existential anxiety which is the source of many psychological problems that individuals face (Frankl, 1997). The ultimate concern of death causes existential conflict, this conflict is due to the knowledge that life will end and the human desire to continue to exist. In an existential sense freedom comes hand and hand with responsibility. The existential concern with isolation is not that an individual is isolated from others, instead it is the concern of being isolated from parts of one’s

This great conflict is between an entity that yearns for meaning and the seemingly meaningless universe it inhabits. These feelings of emptiness and meaninglessness constitute what is known as an ‘existential vacuum’ and presents itself in the form of boredom and apathy. Boredom is often seen in a loss of interest in the world, apathy is seen as a lack of will to do something of importance or change something in the world (Frankl, 1997). According to Frankl (1997), addiction, aggression, and depression are all the result of this sense of futility. Society today is more existentially minded due to a feeling of being lost and the belief that life is without meaning. Beyond these issues existential therapy is more applicable today because of the multitude of people dealing with the triad of pain, guilt, and death. By facing an unchangeable fate one can transcend and grow beyond themselves through adaptation or change. By using existential therapy a person can change suffering into human triumph and accomplishment, producing change from guilt, and seeing within death the incentive to act while one is still alive (Frankl,