What are Existential Therapy and the Existential Crisis?

This video describes existential therapy and the existential crisis. An existential crisis is when someone faces the realities and the mysteries of the human condition in terms of existence and has difficulty coping with that concepts like isolation, freedom, responsibility, the inevitability of death, and searching for meaning and purpose in life. Existential therapy, in theory, treats the existential crisis and a number of other concerns. Often these concerns have philosophical underpinnings similar to an existential crisis. Existential therapy is informed by existential philosophy, but the two are not the same thing. Existential therapy is a therapeutic modality used to treat different concerns about existence and meaning and purpose as well as mental health concerns and mental health symptoms. Existential therapy is an honest and direct therapy it is appropriate for individuals from diverse backgrounds. It discusses a subject matter that is difficult for individuals to discuss with friends or family, like the meaning of life, the inevitability of death, and isolation.

[@rejaneoliveira5019]

I think existential therapy may be very helpful to people with existential crisis. It is very isolating to have existential crisis because people around cannot quite grasp this concept. I believe I have had many existential crisis in the past and I didn’t know what to call it.
This was very very helpful! Thank you Dr. Grande:)

[@simev500]

What I find intriguing is how a therapist or clinician training in this field would deal with their own personal human imperfections as they progress deeper into their preparatory studies.

[@thejoker5958]

Came here due to a short crisis I had yesterday. It was terrifying to suddenly realize that I'm always conscious, to think about how I can perceive, but what truly is perception and does it have meaning. It's weird and scary to feel wrong about experiencing signs of life that most of us think to be good.

[@marykiesewetter224]

I've been using your videos to study for my PHMNP board exam. It's been a great refresher of the different therapies. Thank you so much!

[@philosopotter]

Thank you for putting this video up. I do have to disagree though when it comes to the criticisms. Using a particular technique implies that our patients/clients exist within very predetermined boxes that techniques can match. Existential therapy occupies itself with the unique lived experience of the clients and therefore a one size fits all approach is not suitable. This is especially true in the case of diagnosis and pathology. Existential therapists believe that many behavioural responses to life make sense for the clients where if viewed by a psychoanalytic therapist may be diagnosed as a disorder, limiting potential for change for the client and allowing the client to relax into an identity that is really only determined by the DSM for categorisation and guidance. They have the capacity to move away from these diagnoses and identities if in the right therapy. Existential therapists have to practise from entirely a place of curiosity and inquiry and work hard to bracket any judgement. Self care, personal therapy and supervision are vital to the success of this. Existential therapists are very robust for this reason. I also believe that the criticsm of it has to be integrated with other modalities to be slightly flawed. Many principles of CBT for example are drawn from Existential philosophy and therapy, the broader Existential therapy covers them all. I also feel that some of psychodynamic therapy actually contradicts itself if combined with Existential therapy. ETs will use what has happened to someone in their past as a backdrop but a focus on the present, future and freedom of choice, even when working with severe psychopathologies, as a major component for change if the relationship is strong enough. It is a very anxiety provoking therapy but with that can come quite radical and significant shifts in the client.

[@shauntaepacheco509]

I like the honesty and directness of this particular therapy
and the identification of individuals in relation to the four ways of being.
The overview of existential therapy and existential crisis was well done.
Thanks

[@wandamixon5360]

The explanation of the difference between Existential philosophy, crisis, and therapy is a good introduction. I agree that while the topics can be sobering, these subjects will inevitably arise. I see this therapy as useful integrated with other modalities. I especially appreciate that because the topics are universal it's useful with diverse populations.

[@BlackHatTy]

Im going through one now. Best friend died in 2021 and I saw him die. Knocked me into questioning my reality, and why it matters. Best years of my life are over and now Im just drifting into an inevitable death alone in a hospital bed, if Im lucky. Why even bother.

[@RyelSteele]

This may explain when I presented with psychiatric problems and explained my situation as an existential crisis, they thought I was severely depressed and apt to self harm. I was in crisis but not about to self harm. I think they were the ones panicking and didn't understand what I was trying to say. Big words scary. LOL.

[@krispysox]

Six years ago?! Wow, been watching for 5 and now I find this gem.

[@qiuwbr091]

From my experience Existential Therapy can be excellent for narcissists if anyone can get them to stay or be serious. It really frightens psychopaths from my experience, and sometimes they become angry. I have attended several group therapies at my work as it is sometimes necessary to have 1:1 nurse to patient ratios so Doctors don’t get hurt. But, on more than one occasion I have seen serious cases of narcissism cracked open and take a different direction. There seems to be much remorse in this therapy. (Of course it is often court ordered.)

[@leonicachia3696]

Amazing summary! Kudos! I have been thinking the same about this therapy for a long time. I think it is highly valuable for existential concerns more so than mental health symptoms. I find this modality more of an add-on to other modalities and would only study this formally after further development in my practice of CBT.

[@memomorph5375]

Thanks doc! Im glad you made this video

[@beautifultruth3114]

I very much enjoy listening to your videos. I really want to buy you a Chapstick. The knowledge is very useful and helpful.

[@suzgen7323]

The existential attitude resonated the most for me. I also began to think about this approach being more suited for those who are in there later stages of development. In addition, it clearly is important to understand their psychological capacity for such themes. Your summary provoked some thought about anxiety related issues not clearly being defined resulting moreso from the aversion of these themes. Thank you for also sharing your insight on some of the opposing views of existentialism.

[@DrGrande]

You're welcome - thanks for watching and commenting -

[@dr.donitam.lester1947]

Excellent! Thank you!:)

[@GregHMacLean]

It resonates deeply with me, but I sometimes wonder whether I see it as an essential element for others due to that bias.

[@arjunraju5426]

Sir Make video on Nietzsche's mental health

[@particleconfig.8935]

Me: universe,I feel special, am I narcissistic ?
Universe: why are you asking yourself that question, we are one and the same.. the Us-iverse
Guacamole :p