Existential-Humanistic Therapy Essay Paper
Week 8: Existential-Humanistic Therapy
Discussion: Comparing Existential-Humanistic Therapy to Other Types of Therapy
Post a summary of the psychotherapy 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.

Existential-Humanistic Therapy

Post a summary of the psychotherapy that you selected and explain why it resonates with you the most at this time.

Person-centered therapy (PCT) is the psychotherapy approach that best resonates with me. It is a unique approach since it perceives the therapist as a guide who helps the client to develop personalized solutions to existing problems. This therapy approach best resonates with me because it perceives every individual as unique with individual potential and capable of achieving anything others can do if offered the right tools. Unlike other psychotherapy approaches that perceive the client as inherently flawed, PCT perceives the client as an individual who only requires guidance to change problematic behaviors and thoughts when pursuing personal growth and change. Existential-Humanistic Therapy Essay Paper  PCT guides the client to achieve self-actualization through a progressive and natural process that assigns balance and order to the complexity of life. Therapists who use PCT understand that every client is a complete system that only needs to be directed to achieve personal goals. PCT helps with identifying the most efficient and effective strategies for achieving personal goals by learning how to recognize and trust potential, offering unconditional positive regard, and empathy. The therapist does not direct the client on what to do. Instead, the therapist offers support, guidance and structure that helps the client to develop a personalized solution with the client taking the lead (Quinn, 2015).

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Compare the psychotherapy you selected with existential-humanistic therapy. What are the strengths and challenges of each type of psychotherapy?

The comparison is conducted between PCT and existential-humanistic therapy (EHT). The review reveals that PCT has three strengths. The first strength is the active participation of the client so that a personalized solution is developed. The second strength is that focus is on the problem and not client as the client is perceived as an adaptable system capable of changing. The third strength is that the relationship between the therapist and client is a curative factor that allows the client to take the lead and feel confident and empowered. Still, PCT has two weaknesses. Firstly, it depends on the therapist’s ability and talent. Secondly, it assumes that the client’s history caused the initial problem, and not the social context such as poverty and racism (Quinn, 2015).

The review reveals that EHT has three strengths. The first strength is the emphasis on experiences and viewpoints of the client thus personalizing the therapy. The second strength is the emphasis on individuality and autonomy through use of freewill. The third strength is optimism as it looks at what is present instead of what is absent. However, it has one weakness. It could be confusing as the client is expected to develop personalized solutions, and this makes for a frustrating experience (Schneider & Keug, 2017).

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.

Organ transplant recipients are suitable for PCT. They experience psychological stress from worry about organ rejection, lifestyle changes and medication, all concerns that have implications for their survival. Peter is a transplant client who received the organ from his dying cousin. He feels guilty that his cousin died for him to continue living. PCT would be applied in his case to guide him in letting go of the guilt by processing the experiencing and having a cohesive sense of himself so that he regains his identity as an individual (Quinn, 2015).

Dependent personality disorder is suitable for EHT. Maria is married and is constantly worried that her husband will divorce her. She reports that she will commit suicide if her husband leaves her. She is in constant need of her husband’s attention, is active when he is around and becomes lethargic when his is not around. EHT would be applied in her case to emphasize the concepts of responsibility and freedom so that she does not limit herself (Neukrug, 2015).

References

Neukrug, E. (Ed.) (2015). The SAGE Encyclopedia of Theory in Counseling and Psychotherapy. SAGE Publications.

Quinn, A. (2015). A Person-Centered Approach and the Rogerian Tradition: A Handbook. Author.

Schneider, K. & Krug, O. (2017). Existential-humanistic Therapy (2^nd ed.). American Psychological Association.

Wedding, D. & Corsini, R. (2014). Current Psychotherapies (10^th ed.). Brooks/Cole.  Existential-Humanistic Therapy Essay Paper