Components of Existential Therapy and the Personal Construction of Meaning

Existential Therapy

Existential therapy, as outlined by Jones-Smith (2020), emphasizes the client’s “personal freedom in deciding their fate” (p. 177). At the same time, it also focuses on the individual experience of being in the world, of finding meaning and purpose while not ignoring factors like death and other existential conundrums. It allows for the acknowledgement of people’s inherent anxieties and existential dilemmas but in particular focuses on four primary dimensions of human existence: (1) death, (2) freedom versus responsibility, (3) isolation, and (4) meaninglessness (p. 178). These dimensions help the counselor and the patient to realize the importance of understanding a person within their cultural and social contexts, as well as their individual experiences and spiritual beliefs. This approach is particularly attuned to how one's culture influences their experience of being in the world, such as how cultural views on death affect individual choices and existence. It is very much a therapeutic approach that is present-centered, and it is concerned with the past only to the extent that it can shed light on the present; otherwise, it has no interest in the past (Jones-Smith, 2020). The concept of intentionality is central to existential therapy, as it means that people can move forward or progress with this approach to the extent that they are able to create meaning for themselves. Ultimately, it is this creation of personal meaning that drives this approach.

However, existential therapy is not without its multicultural limitations. It can be criticized, for example, for being overly individualistic, which can clash with cultures that prioritize group orientations over individualism. Such cultures might not align with existential therapy's emphasis on existential aloneness or the pursuit of self-determination independent of one's social groups. Furthermore, existential therapy may inadvertently overlook the significant impact of social factors, such as racism and sexism, on an individual's ability to exercise free will or make meaningful choices within their environment. This oversight can particularly affect clients from non-Western backgrounds who might expect a more structured and problem-oriented approach, rather than the exploration of philosophical questions typical of existential therapy.

Comparatively, existential therapy has positive multicultural aspects in its theoretical foundation, allowing for a broad examination of how a client's culture and social relations influence their behavior and existence. The existential framework encourages exploration of cultural impacts on individual existence, offering an environment in which any individual can create meaning; it is basically a therapeutic safe space for understanding personal identity within a larger social and cultural milieu (Jones-Smith, 2020). This approach thus supports a deep and personal exploration of individual existence in relation to cultural values and societal expectations. It offers a path for clients to explore and understand the influence of their cultural backgrounds on their life choices and existential experiences. By promoting the personal, it promotes awareness, which this approach suggests is needed in order to combat maladaptive behavior (Jones-Smith, 2020).