Individually based theory and therapy models

Experiential Therapy

Theory Foundation
■ Modern person has means to live but often has no meaning to live for- this is the malady of our times, meaninglessness or existential vacuum

■ Purpose of therapy is to challenge people to find meaning and purpose through suffering,
work and love

■ It takes courage to BE         o Our choices determine the kind of person we are
        o We are in constant struggle with
                ● Our want to grow toward maturity and independence
                ● Realizing expansion and growth is often a painful process
                ● Struggling between security and dependence and delights and pain of growth

■ Phenomenological approach        o People’s perceptions or subjective realities are considered to be valid data for investigation
        o Phenomenological discrepancies
                ● Two people perceiving the same situation differently

■ Non-Deterministic approach        o Existentialist argue that it is an oversimplification to view people as controlled by fixed physical laws
        o Encouragement of theories that consider individual initiative, creativity, and self fulfillment
        o Focus on active, positive aspects of human growth

■ I-Though dialogue vs. I-It Dialogue        o I-though
                ● human confirms the other person as being of unique valued
                ● Direct mutual relationship
        o I-it
                ● Person uses others but does not value them for themselves
                ● Utilitarian
        o Self disclosing of therapist emotional response to client’s demonstration of valuing of client’s feelings and perspective.