[Tiggy4]

Hi, has anyone here seen a therapist who described themselves as 'existential'? What was it like?

hey there. i haven't seen an existential therapist before, but i have heard from a few people who have.

this website provides some information about existential therapy.

http://www.existential-therapy.com/

There is also a wiki article (though the first reference looks better)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existential_therapy

I didn't realise that Yalom was an existential therapist...

I'm sorry I don't have experiences with existential therapy to share... Are you going to see an existential therapist? I'd be interested to know how that goes for you :-)

PS welcome to psychcentral!

:-)

[DePressMe]

Existential therapy was the cornerstone in developing who I am. Yes, I still have work to do, but in my 20s I did a lot of existential work.

I began to look at life through my own eyes. I examined my own belief system—where my beliefs originated, why I believed them…did they work for me? I had naturally adopted the belief system of the adults in my life and from the culture around me (not such a good thing when you come from a dysfunctional home). When I took a look at what I believed and why, I decided that some of my beliefs did not work for me. Furthermore, I had the option to build my own belief system instead of operating under one forced upon me by society. What amazing freedom this gave me. I started to engage in therapy and life as an individual being. Nietzsche calls this distinguishing yourself from “the herd.” Yes, this means in many ways you realize that you are alone because you are no longer blindly doing and believing what everybody else around you is believing and doing. It gives you an amazing sense of freedom to make choices about your own life. Of course, with that freedom also comes the complete responsibility for all your actions.

The therapy I did was focused in the “here and now.” (I am not sure how existential this part of the therapy was) We carefully examined my personal experience and feelings and how they affected me “in the moment.” I did not dwell on the actual events of the past—I examined the events in the way I experienced them in the moment. This helped me let go of the chains of the past. This helped me engage with people and life in a whole new way.

Wow, I wish I could find a good existential therapist. What an opportunity. Of course, existential therapy is not for everyone. And, my experience may be much different than yours. Plus, I would have to say, I ran into some very strange people when engaging in this work—I really had to sort out who I wanted to work with—it seemed like some took it to the extreme. Good luck.

AAArrh yes Irvin D yalom and Nietzsche! "When Nietzsche wept" what a great book! Now Yalom talks about the "here and now" all the time in his books, really helped me to see the "here and now" in my own therapy.

Of course before I could do that i had to get rid of the "then" T kept trying to get me to talk about me and her in the here and now. I think we are only really begining to do this! and yes it helps so much. I gives me a clear picture of WHO I AM! I no longer read newspapers or watch the news or really even watch the TV now because it corrupts so much one's ablity to live their own life. I love cutting ties with the "herd" infact at times I have to stop and wonder just how blind I once was. That I swallowed other peoples views and opinions over my own. Maybe because I didnt have my own. Its so exciting isn't it!!

[DePressMe]

Yes! I read the book--very good. Existentail therapy is tough, but it rocks! I felt like I created a whole new person.

[(JD)]

(Says the philosopher Sky...) Isn't all psychotherapy really existential?

[Juliana]

I don't think it is.

[Juliana]

Thanks for the links. This is very interesting stuff. I loved reading Camus, Sartre and Nietzsche when I was in high school and uni, but have never met an existential therapist or anyone who has experienced this therapy. It's very intriguing.

yeah. it is different from 'philosophical councelling':

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/5914/

i've heard someone speak about that but have to say that i was fairly unimpressed (though it could have been more of a function of the particular person who seemed IMHO to be lacking both the requisite philosophical and psychological / councelling qualifications / knowledge).

existential therapy seems to be different from that, however.

the link i provided says something about the distinctive focus in existential therapy, sky.