In Existential Therapy we take a detailed interview of the patient with respect to the four dimensions of his world. the physical, the social, the psychological, and the spiritual. Then We attempt to confer responsibility on core existential issues of death, freedom, responsibility, and the meaning of one’s life. We help a patient to realize that he essentially exists alone but has to stay connected to others. That he has to make personal choices in life that lead to his own concept of happiness i.e. personal happiness. Everyone has the freedom to choose how they are going to exist in life; however, this freedom may go unpracticed. The Therapist helps the patient to make an informed choice and own responsibility for the consequences of his choice.

Read below for more on Existential therapy.

Existential psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy based on the model of human nature and experience developed by the existential tradition of European philosophy. It focuses on concepts that are universally applicable to human existence including death, freedom, responsibility, and the meaning of life. Instead of regarding human experiences such as anxiety, alienation and depression as implying the presence of mental illness, existential psychotherapy sees these experiences as natural stages in a normal process of human development and maturation. In facilitating this process of development and maturation, existential psychotherapy involves a philosophical exploration of an individual’s experiences while stressing the individual’s freedom and responsibility to facilitate a higher degree of meaning and well-being in his or her life

Existential therapy (of the American, existential-humanistic tradition) starts with the belief that although humans are essentially alone in the world, they long to be connected to others. People want to have meaning in one another’s lives, but ultimately they must come to realize that they cannot depend on others for validation, and with that realization, they finally acknowledge and understand that they are fundamentally alone. The result of this revelation is anxiety in the knowledge that our validation must come from within and not from others

This leads to practical therapeutic applications like dealing with personal choices in life that lead to personal happiness.  Personal happiness based on a concept of yourself as having the freedom of directing your life and making necessary changes (so to speak, a radical freedom).  So, a full philosophical understanding of existentialism is basic to methods implemented for emotional and life changes.  That is, a background in philosophy is basic to existential therapy.

For other theorists, there is no such thing as psychological dysfunction or mental illness. Every way of being is merely an expression of how one chooses to live one’s life. However, one may feel unable to come to terms with the anxiety of being alone in the world. If so, an existential psychotherapist can assist one in accepting these feelings rather than trying to change them as if there is something wrong. Everyone has the freedom to choose how they are going to exist in life; however, this freedom may go unpracticed. It may appear easier and safer not to make decisions that one will be responsible for. Many people will remain unaware of alternative choices in life for various societal reasons

Four Basic Dimensions

In line with the view taken by van Deurzen, of human existence: the physical, the social, the psychological, and the spiritual.

On each of these dimensions, people encounter the world and shape their attitude out of their particular take on their experience. Their orientation towards the world defines their reality.

Physical dimension

On the physical dimension (Umwelt), individuals relate to their environment. This includes their attitude to the body they have, to the concrete surroundings they find themselves in, to the climate and the weather, to objects and material possessions, to the bodies of other people, their own bodily needs, to health and illness and their mortality. The struggle on this dimension is, in general terms, between the search for domination over the elements and natural law and the need to accept the limitations of natural boundaries Recognizing limitations can deliver a significant release of tension.

Social dimension

On the social dimension (Mitwelt), individuals relate to others as they interact with the public world around them. This dimension includes their response to the culture they live in, as well as to the class and race they belong Attitudes here range from love to hate and from cooperation to competition. The dynamic contradictions can be understood concerning acceptance versus rejection or belonging versus isolation.

Psychological dimension

On the psychological dimension (Eigenwelt), individuals relate to themselves and in this way create a personal world. This dimension includes views about their character, their past experience and their future possibilities. Contradictions here are often experienced regarding personal strengths and weaknesses. People search for a sense of identity, a feeling of being substantial and having a self.

Spiritual dimension

On the spiritual dimension (Überwelt) (van Deurzen, 1984), individuals relate to the unknown and thus create a sense of an ideology and a philosophical outlook. It is there that they find meaning by putting all the pieces of the puzzle together for themselves.