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Existential Therapy for Depression

Existential therapy addresses the challenges presented by the human condition, one of the most widespread of which is depression. This therapy is philosophical in its approach; it seeks to help people identify their values, find meaning in their lives and learn to live authentically, all of which are profound difficulties that depressed individuals grapple with.

  1. Existential Therapy and Depression

    • The premise of existential therapy is that difficulties in life are a result of problems of existence and not because a person is mentally ill. These problems of existence often lead a person to become depressed. Existential therapy takes seriously the fact that life is difficult and the problems of existence are many.

    Existential Therapy Treatment

    • Existential therapy treats depression by helping individuals address the underlying causes of their disease. This therapy views "dis-ease" as a negative response to the challenges of existence. These existential problems include, but are not limited to, an awareness of mortality, the struggle to find meaning and the responsibility of making choices.

    Taking Control of Your Life

    • The basic premise of existential therapy is that individuals have the freedom to determine how they respond to their existence. Therapists help clients become self-aware, identify personal values, define personal meaning and live consciously and in the present.

      An existentialist therapist helps clients take responsibility for their lives by helping them to recognize that they are the creator of their lives. Existential therapy places the responsibility for being depressed squarely on the individuals and asks why they have chosen depression. The therapy then tasks clients with the responsibility of responding more positively to existential issues.

    The Existential Therapy Model

    • Existential therapy recognizes the problems of the human condition and existence while at the same time emphasizing human beings' great potential and freedom to respond constructively to these challenges. It helps individuals who choose depression as a response to existential difficulties to break this negative pattern. It does this by helping clients to acknowledge life's deep uncertainty and difficult truths and affirm their own lives by living deliberately despite and because of these difficulties.

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