Existential Psychotherapy & Counselling
Existential psychotherapy (also phenomenology) is referred to as a philosophical approach to life, and is a therapy that is not as well-known as others. It does not use ‘methods’, but is guided by some core principles, or ‘givens’.
Existentialism is an approach to life. And an enriched one due to the influences of many great minds. These include Friedrich Nietzsche, Albert Camus, Edmund Husserl, Martin Heidegger, Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, Victor Frankl, Irvin Yalom, and Emmy van Deurzen, to name just some. It is a form of humanistic therapy that is keenly focused on individuals’ personal responsibility, choice, freedom and lived experiences.
Yalom for example, offers the four “givens” of the human condition: freedom, isolation, meaning, and death. According to the existential view, thinking about death offers significance and motivation to live life fully, creating accountability towards taking opportunities and living meaningfully. Existentialists also believe that there is a value in anxiety, and existential work seeks to facilitate an acceptance about anxiety, dread, and pain.
This can remove some of the ‘power’ that anxiety may hold over you. And a deeper understanding of your anxiety can also help you to better understand yourself, and discover what gives your life meaning, and purpose. Also enlightening to your responsibility toward your life, and therefore the choices you have, which can lead to a more fulfilling existence.
Existential counselling therapists aim to create a healing relationship between themselves and their client. Through this, Phinity therapists aim to help you come to a place of engagement with your life, so you can make choices, and remove obstacles.
Indeed, existentialism help individuals focus on the reasons for existence, the scope of free will, and choices about life. This deep approach seeks to bring awareness and understanding to our subjective embodied experience of existence, within the context of our lifeworld.
Our existential therapists offer interesting ways to look at issues, and use their empathic skills, non-judgemental approach, Socratic questioning, and listening skills to help clients attain more self-awareness, make sense of their concerns, and work through existential crises in a more agentic way. This unique relationship will help you be brave about exploring yourself, find your meaning, and develop ways to feel able to reach your aims.
- A safe space – one unlike any other relationship you’ve experienced before
- Unique – existential therapists do not view anxiety as a problem, it is something that can be explored toward greater self-understanding and growth
- Philosophical – existentialism can help you make sense of your feelings about the ‘bigger questions’
- Restorative – a space for healing
- Offers direction – seeks to help you find your meaning and purpose in life, therefore carving a new path
- A sense of control – can help you feel more in control of your life, as you understand the choices you have, and willingly accept what you cannot control
- Creative and distinctive in its approach – though not methodical, existentialism does offer some novel and creative ‘techniques’, or ‘ways’ to help you explore issues
- Work towards a new version of you by self-actualising
- Be at ease with yourself, your relationships, and the world around you
Existential therapy is well suited to issues around crises of identity, existence and life, anxiety, life transitions of any kind, terminal illness, suicidal ideation, trauma, and issues around meaning and life purpose.
It can help individuals work through feelings of guilt, grief, social unfulfillment, dissatisfaction with life or self, and other emotions that may be buried and causing internal problems that manifest externally in problematic ways.
We offer private Existential therapy in Birmingham. Phinity Therapy also serve other cities and countries through our network of qualified therapists. Online therapy is also available, catering for those who cannot reach our clinic or have busy schedules.
Make a commitment to taking control and living the life you want and deserve. Start by booking your Free Initial Consultation Today and speak to one of our friendly principal therapists about your concerns and desired goals.
You can alternatively fill in our contact form located on our About Us page, or give us a call.
*Due to limited time slot availability caused by high demand, we now offer only one Free Initial Consultation for prospective clients, further conversations are charged at our normal rate.
We are proud to connect you with highly experienced practitioners who can help with almost any psychological issue.
Apathy and anhedonia are often symptoms of other mental health problems, such as depression. Apathy is thought to be an issue of motivation. Anhedonia is the inability to experience pleasure. The two are often experienced together. Learn more about them here.
Bereavement is a time and state of mourning and grief when we experience deep loss. It is a natural, inevitable, and often very painful part of life, which occurs in response to the deprivation of someone or something. When we process loss, we experience grief on multiple levels, including mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally. Emotional responses include anxiety, guilt, anger, sadness, and despair.
Life is challenging, so it’s normal to feel low at times. If however, you’re feeling sad, apathetic, and hopeless for a prolonged period, you may be depressed, and this impacts functioning. And although depression is a natural response to difficulties, it can be treated.
Life involves suffering but we are not taught this. Instead we are taught that we should strive for happiness. But this kind of thinking does us a disservice, we become vulnerable to the inevitable trials of human existence, and feel ill-equipped to handle life challenges. But what if internal crises could be better managed?
Psychologists have long studied identity, but what are identity issues? Identity issues arise when people experience difficulties around their sense of self and who they are. There are many reasons for why this might happen, and sometimes it can become an ‘identity crisis‘.
We experience many transitions throughout our lives, some are expected and predictable, whereas others can be sudden and shocking, making us feel a loss of control, even impacting our mental health and wellbeing. But there are ways to navigate the process of change.
Our specialised culture lives and breathes human psychology & care.
We do everything thoughtfully, with you in mind.
Which is why at Phinity you get Hands with Heart care.
Highest Quality Training, Accreditation & Experience
Individualised Approach Unique to You
Take the next step and Book Your Free Consultation Today!
Speak to our lead therapist who will carefully listen to your concerns, to understand what you want from therapy. If you decide to opt into therapy, we will match you to the most suitable practitioner so you can effectively achieve your goals.
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