Chapter 6: Existential Therapy

    Existential Therapy is influenced by multiple people, the founder of existential philosophy is believed to be Soren Kierkegaard. Other notable such as Friedrich Nietsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, Emmy von Deurzen-Smith, and Victer Frankl. The basic philosophy of Existential Therapy is that humans are free and responsible for their own lives and possess the potential for self-actualization. There are two versions as to the source of motivation both based around the constructs of obtaining meaning in life. Frankl stated meaning was searched for, as each individual inherently possessed meaning but needed to find it. others stated meaning is created. The central constructs of this theory consist first of the modes of being of which there are four, Umwelt (physical world), Mitwelt (social world), Eigenwelt (inner psychological), Uberwelt (spirituality). A human must attend to each of these realms to be authentic. Anxiety is the next construct, it  is normal for every being and occurs as a result of the desire to survive, protect and assert ourselves. The ultimate concerns are described as themes of Death, Freedom, Meaning and Isolation. Finally the last construct defenses is a reaction due to humans anxieties.
    This method may be applicable to many different student situations. For example student entering into college with a particular plan in mind, major, career path etc. Students such as these have found and/or created meaning in their life. Sometimes the culture of the campus or other situations may cause a student to rethink the previous plan, to look for something new. The loss of meaning can be hard for a student in the in-between of the loss and the next steps towards recreation. In this situation the method of Existential therapy may be best utilized.