Existential-Humanistic Therapy

Introduction

Existential-humanistic therapy emphasizes that individuals have the ability for choice and self-awareness. The goal of existential-humanistic therapy is to assist clients to liberate themselves from their self-imposed limitations in order to understand their authentic life goals and purpose, versus the limitations imposed by others or self (Feizi et al., 2019). This paper will compare the existential-humanistic therapy to cognitive processing therapy.

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is that therapy that helps clients to learn how to deal with, challenge, and alter the unhelpful and negative beliefs related to the trauma (Watkins et al., 2018). This helps the client to have a new understanding and view of the traumatic incident and thus decreases its ongoing negative impact on the current life.  Existential Humanistic Therapy Essay

The main strength of CPT is that it teaches clients numerous skills that help them to challenge the negative thoughts and gain control of their lives. Through CPT, people learn how to handle the traumatic life events and help people manage distressing thoughts (Watkins et al., 2018). However, CPT is specifically effective in the treatment of traumatic events such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) yet individuals with PTSD are likely to have other comorbidities such as depression, substance abuse, and dissociation. Additionally, homework assignments and written activities are essential in CPT and thus this may hinder individuals unable to complete the assignments from successfully engaging in CPT.

The main strength of humanistic-existential therapy is its optimism where rather than focusing on what is lacking in clients, the approach focuses on the potential of individuals to thrive. The approach also focuses on the individuality and autonomy of the client (Feizi et al., 2019). Clients are encouraged to on free will and reinforce the ability of the client to choose and act autonomously. Moreover, the approach is personalized for each client as it focuses on a person’s own experiences and perspective. However, humanistic-existential therapy is excessively individualistic and thus it may overlook the social factors that lead to human problems (Feizi et al., 2019). The therapy can also be challenging for clients preferring a problem-oriented and structured approach rather than a philosophical discussion.

Cognitive processing therapy would be best suited for a client with bipolar disorder. This is because the CPT is a social cognitive theory of PTSD that focuses to repair the damage impacted by a traumatic event on the beliefs of the individual (Watkins et al., 2018). Therefore, CPT would allow an individual with PTSD to challenge the negative thoughts and gain a more positive perspective about the trauma and cope better with future trauma.

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On the other hand, existential-humanistic therapy would be suitable for a client with bipolar disorder. The approach would help the client to face their life realities that should be changed, and search for purpose and meaning in life, and gain awareness about themselves.  (Varvatsoulias, 2015). According to Wolfe (2016) people with bipolar disorder believe that their loneliness and isolation are idiosyncratic and this makes such individuals feel abandoned. Therefore, existential-humanistic therapy can help such a client find purpose in life and learn that even negative aspects are part of life.

Conclusion

CPT helps clients to learn how to deal with, challenge, and alter the unhelpful and negative beliefs related to the trauma while the existential-humanistic therapy assists clients to understand their authentic life goals and purpose, versus the limitations imposed by others or self. CPT may be effective in the treatment of PTSD while existential-humanistic therapy may be useful in clients with bipolar disorder.

References

Feizi, M., Kamali, Z., Gholami, M., Abadi, B., & Moeini, S. (2019). The effectiveness of existential psychotherapy on attitude to life and self-flourishing of educated women homemakers. Journal of education and health promotion, 8, 237. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_473_18.

Varvatsoulias G. (2015). Depression as a Maladaptive Process: Discussion of the Condition According to The Humanistic and Existential Approach. GESJ: Education Science and Psychology, 2(34).

Watkins, L. E., Sprang, K. R., & Rothbaum, B. O. (2018). Treating PTSD: A Review of Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Interventions. Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience, 12, 258. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00258.

Wolfe B. (2016). Existential-humanistic therapy and psychotherapy integration: A commentary. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 26(1):56-60.

Existential-Humanistic Therapy

“It is the client who knows what hurts, what directions to go, what problems are crucial, what experiences have been deeply buried.”

–Carl Rogers, from On Becoming a Person

This client-centered perspective is the cornerstone of existential-humanistic therapy, which requires therapists to “attempt to receive clients with curiosity and openness, endeavor to grasp their subjective world, and believe that clients are the experts on their own experience” (Wheeler, 2014, p. 373). As the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, it is important to understand that the effectiveness of this approach is dependent on your relationship with clients, as well as your beliefs on holism and human nature.

This week, you will compare Existential-Humanistic therapy to a therapy you select from the previous weeks of this course. Existential Humanistic Therapy Essay

Comparing Existential-Humanistic Therapy to Other Types of Therapy

Understanding the strengths of each type of therapy and which type of therapy is most appropriate for each client is an essential skill of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. In this Discussion, you will compare Existential-Humanistic therapy to a therapy you select from the previous weeks of this course. You will identify the strengths and challenges of each and describe a fictional client that you think is best suited for each.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Compare types of psychotherapy

To prepare:

• Review this week’s Learning Resources
• Review this week’s media and consider the insights provided.
• Review the other types of psychotherapy presented in this course and select the one that resonates with you the most at this time

 Write a summary of the psychotherapy (Cognitive Processing Therapy) that you selected and explain why it resonates with you the most at this time. Then compare the psychotherapy you selected with existential-humanistic therapy. What are the strengths and challenges of each type of psychotherapy? Describe a fictional client that you think would be best suited for the therapy you selected and one fictional client you think would be best suited for existential-humanistic therapy. Explain why. Don’t forget your introductory paragraph and conclusion.

Resources

Required Readings

Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

• Chapter 10, “Humanistic-Existential and Solution-Focused Approaches to Psychotherapy” (Review pp. 369–406)

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Nagy, T. F. (2011). Ethics in psychotherapy. In Essential ethics for psychologists: A primer for understanding and mastering core issues (pp. 185–198). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/12345-010

Required Media

Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2013). Counseling and psychotherapy theories in context and practice [Video file]. Mill Valley, CA: Psychotherapy.net.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2012b). Clinical supervision follow-up [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Existential Humanistic Therapy Essay