existential psychotherapy

psychology

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July 15, 2026

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Existential psychotherapy is a form of treatment that focuses on the current experiences of the patient to resolve problems. It is concerned with the meaning of a patient's existence and emphasizes the therapeutic relationship as a space for self-discovery. Unlike dynamic psychotherapy, which delves into unconscious material, existential therapies help patients find their own meanings through collaboration with a supportive therapist. This approach is rooted in the idea that individuals confront questions about identity, meaning, and purpose, which can lead to an existential crisis. Therapies like Gestalt therapy and those influenced by Viktor Frankl are examples, focusing on immediate experience and the search for meaning and values.12

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mental disorder
Humanistic and existential psychotherapies
In contrast to dynamic psychotherapy, humanistic and existential psychotherapies focus on the current experience of the patient in resolving problems. Humanistic therapy is represented primarily by the person-centered approach of American psychologist Carl Rogers, who held that the essential features of therapy are…
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In contrast to dynamic psychotherapy, humanistic and existential psychotherapies focus on the current experience of the patient in resolving problems. Humanistic therapy is represented primarily by the person-centered approach of American psychologist Carl Rogers, who held that the essential features of therapy are…
Read More