An Analysis of Existential Therapy from a Counseling Perspective

Existential theory is derived from the existential philosophy movement of the nineteenth century. There were several individuals instrumental in the development of existential therapy including Bugental, Frankl, May, and Yalom. It is not a concise theory but is a loose collection of theories centering on the meaning or purpose of life. However it is applicable to counseling because of its focus on the meaning of life which promotes clients well-being. The main therapeutic techniques are: Logotherapy, the “I-thou model”, and the self-in-world concept. However since existential counseling is not a technique driven therapy, techniques from other therapies can be used effectively with an existential therapeutic focus. It appears applicable to a wide variety of counseling situations in which clients are seeking to resolve issues concerning the ultimate ‘meaning of life’ and does focus on the collaborative nature of the counselor – client