课件：心理咨询与治疗的理论及实践CHAPTER6 EXISTENTIAL THERAPY.ppt

Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy,Psych422 Chapter6: Existential Therapy,Questions?,What key concepts do you know in terms of existential therapy? What is the meaning or purpose of your life? What do you want from life? Where is the source of meaning for you in life? How do you work through a sense of “no self” and feeling alone? What are the possible reasons that people tend to blame others for their problems? What is the positive motivation of being anxious? If you only have 30 days left, whats your feelings? What will you do?,Question,What key concepts do you know in terms of existential therapy?,Existential Therapy A Philosophical/Intellectual Approach to Therapy,View of Human Nature The capacity for self-awareness The tension between freedom & responsibility The creation of an identity & establishing meaningful relationships The search for meaning, purpose, and values of life Accepting anxiety as a condition of living The awareness of death and nonbeing,The Capacity for Self-Awareness,We can reflect and make choices because we are capable of self-awareness. Expanding our awareness in realizing that: We are finite - time is limited We have the potential, the choice, to act or not to act Meaning is not automatic - we must seek it We are subject to loneliness, meaninglessness, emptiness, guilt, and isolation,Question,What are the possible reasons that people tend to blame others for their problems?,Freedom and Responsibility,We are free to choose among alternatives We are responsible for our lives, for our action, and for our failure to take action. Blaming others for their problems- Recognize how they allowed others to decide for them and the price they pay Encourage them to consider the alternative options,Striving for Identity,Identity is “the courage to be” We must trust ourselves to search within and find our own answers Our great fear is that we will discover that there is no core, no self Struggling with our identity: Challenging clients-in what ways that they have lost touch with they identity and letting others to design their life.,Question?,How do you work through a sense of “no self” and feeling alone?,Relationship to others,Aloneness We are alone-So, we must give a sense of meaning to life, decide how we will live, have a relationship with ourselves, and learn to listen to ourselves. Relatedness We need to create a close relationship with others Challenging clients-What they get from they relationship? How they avoid close relationship?,Question,What is the meaning or purpose of your life? What do you want from life? Where is the source of meaning for you in life?,The Search for Meaning,Therapists trust is important in teaching clients to trust their own capacity to find their way of being. Meaninglessness in life leads to emptiness and hollowness (existential vacuum) Finding meaning in life is a by-product of engagement, which is a commitment to creating, loving, working, and building.,Question,What is the positive motivation of being anxious?,Anxiety A Condition of Living,Anxiety arises from ones strivings to survive. Existential anxiety is normal an outcome of being confronted with the four given of existence: death, freedom, existential isolation, and meaninglessness. Recognize existential anxiety and find ways to deal with it constructively. Anxiety can be a stimulus for growth as we become aware of and accept our freedom If we have the courage to face ourselves and life we may be frightened, but we will be able to change,Question,If you only have 30 days left, whats your feelings? What will you do?,Awareness of Death,Death provides the motivation for us to live our lives fully and take advantage of each opportunity to do something meaningful.,Therapeutic Goals,To expand self-awareness To increase potential choices To help client accept the responsibility for their choice To help the client experience authentic existence,Therapists Function and Role,Understand the clients subjective world Encourage clients to accept personal responsibility When clients blame others, therapist is likely to ask them how they contributed to their situation.,Clients Experience in Therapy,They are challenged to take responsibility for how they now choose to be, decide how they want to be different, and