Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Existential Therapy Helps WithHow Does Existential Therapy Work?The Role of Existential Therapy in Modern Psychology

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What Existential Therapy Helps With

How Does Existential Therapy Work?

The Role of Existential Therapy in Modern Psychology

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There are two things all humans have in common: We are born onto this Earth and we will die on this Earth. This knowledge of the human condition is the source of endlessexistential questions, concerns and searches for some sort of meaning to make sense of the time we’re here. It’s the driving force for countless decisions and the topic of many late-night deep conversations—you know the ones.

But, it’s not just reserved for those heart-to-hearts with loved ones, it’s also a topic commonly tackled with a mental health professional. Existential therapy, in particular, centers around these questions and concerns, providing a safe space to dive into the big philosophical points of life.

Meet the ExpertsTherapists and psychology experts cited in this article include:Kelli Collins, LMFTNilou Esmaeilpour, Clinical CounselorDr. Avigal Lev, Clinical Psychologist

Meet the Experts

Therapists and psychology experts cited in this article include:Kelli Collins, LMFTNilou Esmaeilpour, Clinical CounselorDr. Avigal Lev, Clinical Psychologist

Therapists and psychology experts cited in this article include:

Existential therapy can help with things such as anxiety (including around death), hopelessness, low self-esteem, and more. “Human existence is full of uncertainty—and uncertainty breeds anxiety. Existential therapy is about how we grapple with the uncertainty of life to find freedom and meaning,” says Kelli Collins, a licensed marriage and family therapist and the regional clinical director forTwo Chairs. “In existential therapy, you can expect to face big scary things like death, isolation, and meaninglessness, and to seek to find purpose and meaning in your life in spite of it all.”

Kelli Collins, LMFT and the regional clinical director for Two ChairsExistential therapy is about how we grapple with the uncertainty of life to find freedom and meaning.

Kelli Collins, LMFT and the regional clinical director for Two Chairs

Existential therapy is about how we grapple with the uncertainty of life to find freedom and meaning.

Yalom described four core concerns addressed in existential therapy:

Studies have shown that existential therapy techniques can have benefits such as improved existential well-being in cancer patients. However, further research is needed to fully understand the evidence behind existential therapy.

The 19th century Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard, is considered the father of existentialism and stressed the importance of giving meaning to your own life instead of searching for it in external factors like religion.

An existential approach to therapy emphasizes:

Existential therapy focuses on current and future experiences, rather than diving into past events or attempting to diagnose symptoms, adds Nilou Esmaeilpour, a registered clinical counselor atLotus Therapy and Counselling Centre. It also grapples with the individual responsibilities and free will each person contends with as you move throughout your life.

Part of this process is delving into the pain these choices can bring. “We all have the freedom to choose our attitudes and what we want to be about in life, and we have the responsibility to actualize our values and live according to our principles,” says Dr. Avigal Lev, a licensed clinical psychologist atBay Area CBT Center. “This sense of freedom and the responsibility to choose a meaningful life often bring humans a lot of pain.”

A great deal of existential therapy also centers around the ways you relate to other people. “This approach aids in finding ways to cope withexistential isolation, the reality that we are all born alone and die alone yet are still interconnected and interdependent,” says Lev.

Avigal Lev, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist at Bay Area CBT CenterThis approach aids in finding ways to cope with existential isolation, the reality that we are all born alone and die alone yet are still interconnected and interdependent.

Avigal Lev, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist at Bay Area CBT Center

This approach aids in finding ways to cope with existential isolation, the reality that we are all born alone and die alone yet are still interconnected and interdependent.

Some limitations of existential therapy involve its abstractness and lack of a clearly focused structure, explains Esmaeilpour. It also typically isn’t focused on identifying or coping with specific mental health disorders (or even symptoms) which can be challenging if a person needs help in those areas.

What This Means For YouExistential therapy can be especially helpful in a world of separation and individualism. “During these current times, where feelings of disconnection and overwhelm are prevalent and we are all facing the effects of a collective trauma, existential psychotherapy helps people make meaning of their suffering and take actions that allow them to live a purposeful, values-driven life," says Lev. “It emphasizes the importance of embracing and actualizing our values, choosing our attitude, and making meaning of our unique human condition, offering a pathway to deeper fulfillment and interconnectedness.”

What This Means For You

Existential therapy can be especially helpful in a world of separation and individualism. “During these current times, where feelings of disconnection and overwhelm are prevalent and we are all facing the effects of a collective trauma, existential psychotherapy helps people make meaning of their suffering and take actions that allow them to live a purposeful, values-driven life,” says Lev. “It emphasizes the importance of embracing and actualizing our values, choosing our attitude, and making meaning of our unique human condition, offering a pathway to deeper fulfillment and interconnectedness.”

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Heidenreich T, Noyon A, Worrell M, Menzies R.Existential approaches and cognitive behavior therapy: challenges and potential.Int J Cogn Ther. 2021;14(1):209-234. doi:10.1007/s41811-020-00096-1Terao, T., & Satoh, M. (2022b).The Present State of Existential Interventions Within Palliative Care.Frontiers in Psychiatry,12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.811612Gardiner, P.Nineteenth Century Philosophy.The Free Press: 1969.Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Brief Interventions and Brief Therapies for Substance Abuse.Brief Humanistic and Existential Therapies.

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Heidenreich T, Noyon A, Worrell M, Menzies R.Existential approaches and cognitive behavior therapy: challenges and potential.Int J Cogn Ther. 2021;14(1):209-234. doi:10.1007/s41811-020-00096-1Terao, T., & Satoh, M. (2022b).The Present State of Existential Interventions Within Palliative Care.Frontiers in Psychiatry,12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.811612Gardiner, P.Nineteenth Century Philosophy.The Free Press: 1969.Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Brief Interventions and Brief Therapies for Substance Abuse.Brief Humanistic and Existential Therapies.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Heidenreich T, Noyon A, Worrell M, Menzies R.Existential approaches and cognitive behavior therapy: challenges and potential.Int J Cogn Ther. 2021;14(1):209-234. doi:10.1007/s41811-020-00096-1Terao, T., & Satoh, M. (2022b).The Present State of Existential Interventions Within Palliative Care.Frontiers in Psychiatry,12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.811612Gardiner, P.Nineteenth Century Philosophy.The Free Press: 1969.Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Brief Interventions and Brief Therapies for Substance Abuse.Brief Humanistic and Existential Therapies.

Terao, T., & Satoh, M. (2022b).The Present State of Existential Interventions Within Palliative Care.Frontiers in Psychiatry,12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.811612

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