By Charlotte Musgrove, Counsellor at The Eaves
Existential therapy has basic but profound philosophical principles. It focuses on the ‘Existential Givens’ that as humans we all must face; death, freedom, isolation and meaning, and the subsequent tension of the opposing-life, responsibility, connection and meaninglessness, creates existential anxiety.
All clients, because we are all people, will experience a level of existential anxiety and tension between these opposing forces. It’s part of an existential therapists way of working to help clients tolerate and navigate these tensions, often through encouraging a deep authentic response to how we are experiencing our world and what we truly want from it. To also accept and integrate the unavoidable uncertainties of life allows us to become unstuck from situations, thoughts and feelings and move forward with our lives.
This makes existential therapy a great choice for:
- Clients going through major life transitions
- Bereavement
- Depression or those struggling to find meaning and needing help reconnecting with the power of choice and agency
- Clients that would benefit from long term therapy who want to explore big topics like spirituality, identity, relationships, the self.
- People experiencing shame. Shame can keep us so stuck, so developing agency, responsibility, normalising, compassion and our humanness can help us move forward.
Existentialism for me is gentle as well as challenging. The challenge comes from breaking down and questioning our beliefs about society, culture, relationships, ourselves and in that, advocating for fluidity, adaption, change and growth. That there is no beginning or end, it’s the now that matters and the more we can accept our humanity, the more we can enjoy our lives.
I see an existential therapist as someone to tap in and encourage a philosophised way of navigating our time on earth. Who prizes individuality and authenticity who, in the words of Irvin Yalom are “fellow travellers,” who can provide empathy and support to help clients make decisions to life a fulfilled life. Which means a real soulful bond is formed between client and therapist, bonded by witnessing our authentic humanness together.
Existential Texts
Dr. Viktor Frankl- Man’s Search For Meaning
Irvin Yalom-Existential Psychotherapy, Love’s Executioner & Staring at the Sun
The Eaves Counselling and Psychology
Charlotte Musgrove, Counsellor and Psychotherapist at The Eaves, is based at our Guildford and Godalming practices. To find out more about Charlotte, or to enquire about her latest availability, please visit her profile here
The Eaves Counselling and Psychology Ltd is a select professional body of Counsellors, Psychotherapists and Psychologists, providing high quality psychological care Monday to Saturday between 9am and 9pm from our practices in Guildford, Godalming, Farnham, Haslemere and online.
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