What is Existential Psychotherapy?
The UKCP website says,
"Existential psychotherapy is centred upon supporting the client to make sense of life through the willingness to face it and its problems. The existentialist belief is that life has no essential or predetermined meaning, the individual is entirely free and ultimately responsible, so meaning has to be found or created. This can trigger feelings of meaninglessness in life, thus the therapy explores the client's experience of the human condition and aims to clarify the individual's understanding of values and beliefs, explicitly naming what has previously been left unspoken. The client is supported in living more authentically and purposefully, whilst accepting the limitations and contradictions of what it is to be human.
As a movement existentialism began in the 19th Century with philosophers Nietzsche and Kierkegaard. As a therapy it is regarded as a serious enquiry into what it means to be human, often involving the painful process of squarely facing up to aspects of humanity that are ordinarily avoided and evaded. Existentialist therapists believe that such in depth explorations can ultimately bring great strength and joy."
I feel it is important to add that it is very difficult to give a description of how the therapy works as it is very much about exploring each individual experience of being in the world. I always advise to come along and experience my way of working and judging from that if you feel working with me will be of benefit to you.
How do I get started?
I offer an initial consultation of up to an hour and twenty minutes. This time provides an opportunity to say something about what brings you to therapy and to get a feel for what it will be like working with me as well as completing the initial contact requirements.
What happens after the initial contact?
If you decide to work with me we can decide if you want to start time limited or open ended therapy or if it is better to just see how it goes. For time limited work we will decide the term; for open ended we will work until it feels right to end.
How long and how often is each session?
Usually you attend once a week for therapy but I am open to seeing you more than once a week or to see you fortnightly. This is normally on a set day and time although I realise that for some people this can be difficult due to shift work. We will have time to talk about this in the first session.
Each session is around an hour. The way in which I work means I do not insist on just a 50 minute therapy hour which is the most popular session length. I realise that sometimes an hour can also be too long so I do not set a minimum time you should be present for either. If you choose to leave before the hour I will still charge the usual rate though.