Tenents of an Existential Approach to Counselling
What are the tenets of an existential-humanistic approach to counselling and how relevant is this counselling approach in the African cultural setting?
Existential-Humanistic psychology looks at individuals as a whole person and living in a socially interconnected and holistic world. It focuses on helping the individual self-discover the healing process, leading eventually to improved self-esteem. High self-esteem has many positive social benefits: individual happiness (Shackelford, 2001), academic achievement (Schmidt & Padilla, 2003), and supportive social behaviour. The five core beliefs of humanistic psychology are: a phenomenological approach; a tendency for a person to attain self-actualization; a holistic perspective and integrated view of a person; that each person has the ability to determine for them what is good and bad; and for the therapist to respect the subjective experience of a person unconditionally.
Existential therapy can be best described as "a philosophical approach that influences a counsellor’s therapeutic practice" (Corey, 2009, p.132), existential counselling is governed more by a way of thinking as opposed to a particular therapeutic style (Spear, 2001).The existential approach is based on a philosophical understanding of what it is to be human, on exploring the challenges and paradoxes of human existence. It is also based on the assumption that we are free and therefore responsible for our choices and actions, we are more than victims of our circumstances. It accepts the notion that our choices are limited by external circumstances and rejects the notion that our acts are determined. The existential approach looks at the individual as a whole person living in a socially interconnected and holistic world. It is not concerned with client’s past but emphasizes the choices to be made in the present and future. Existential counselling involves assisting clients to discover meaning in their lives, and highlights that life 's driving force
Existential-Humanistic psychology looks at individuals as a whole person and living in a socially interconnected and holistic world. It focuses on helping the individual self-discover the healing process, leading eventually to improved self-esteem. High self-esteem has many positive social benefits: individual happiness (Shackelford, 2001), academic achievement (Schmidt & Padilla, 2003), and supportive social behaviour. The five core beliefs of humanistic psychology are: a phenomenological approach; a tendency for a person to attain self-actualization; a holistic perspective and integrated view of a person; that each person has the ability to determine for them what is good and bad; and for the therapist to respect the subjective experience of a person unconditionally.
Existential therapy can be best described as "a philosophical approach that influences a counsellor’s therapeutic practice" (Corey, 2009, p.132), existential counselling is governed more by a way of thinking as opposed to a particular therapeutic style (Spear, 2001).The existential approach is based on a philosophical understanding of what it is to be human, on exploring the challenges and paradoxes of human existence. It is also based on the assumption that we are free and therefore responsible for our choices and actions, we are more than victims of our circumstances. It accepts the notion that our choices are limited by external circumstances and rejects the notion that our acts are determined. The existential approach looks at the individual as a whole person living in a socially interconnected and holistic world. It is not concerned with client’s past but emphasizes the choices to be made in the present and future. Existential counselling involves assisting clients to discover meaning in their lives, and highlights that life 's driving force
References: Archer, J., & McCarthy, C. J. (2007). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy: Contemporary applications. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Pearson Education. Corey, G. (2009). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy. (8th ed). Belmont, CA: Books/Cole. Corey, G. (2005). Case approach to counseling and psychotherapy (6th ed). Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole. Jeffress, D. (2010). What is Existential Therapy? Retrieved October 6, 2012, from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-existential-therapy.htm Palmer, S.(2000). Introduction to Counselling and Pyschotherapy. London: Sage publications. Pam, J.(2003). Handbook of Counselling Pyschology. London:Sage publications. Yalom, I. D. (1980). Existential psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books