What is Existential Therapy? A Movement Toward a More Conscious Life

I think this is familiar to many. A feeling of being stuck, when existence flows in a single channel, when we achieve the goals we set for ourselves, but a void remains inside, a dissatisfaction, a search for something more. This woman was not suffering from depression in the clinical sense, nor was she experiencing trauma. She was faced with a more fundamental question: how to live authentically when external achievements no longer answer an inner calling?

Existential therapy emerges right here, at the intersection of success and existential anxiety. It is a unique approach that helps not just to cope with such moments, but to look deeply into the very essence of these questions and find a path to a more conscious and fulfilled life.

Unlike some other forms of therapy that may focus on diagnosis, behavior change, or analysis of the past, existential therapy takes a broader view. It recognizes that being human is difficult, and that many of our struggles (anxiety, apathy, a sense of meaninglessness) are not a sign of a 'malfunction,' but a natural part of our existence.

Behind existential therapy lies not just a special understanding of the world, but a variety of approaches that therapists have been developing since the beginning of the twentieth century. As researcher and therapist Mick Cooper writes, it is a 'rich tapestry' of approaches, all united by a common concern for human existence. They range from analytical approaches that explore the structure of being and how we get stuck in it, to humanistic ones that emphasize subjective experience and authenticity, and to meaning-centered ones that help find purpose and direction.

The first territory concerns freedom and responsibility. We are free to make choices, and this can be more frightening than any external limitation. Existential therapy helps to realize this freedom and accept responsibility for one's own existence, turning fear into a source of strength. When we recognize that we shape our reality with our choices (even the choice not to choose), the space of possibilities expands.

The second territory is related to the search for meaning. Existence does not come with a ready-made instruction manual and a predetermined meaning. Instead of looking for a universal answer, therapy helps you create or discover your own personal meaning that will give your daily life purpose and direction. This is not a denial of traditional sources of meaning (religion, culture, relationships), but an invitation to an active, conscious relationship with them.

The third territory requires special courage: the awareness of finitude. The thought of death can be anxiety-provoking, but the realization that our time is limited can also be a powerful incentive to live a more full and authentic life right now. As Heidegger wrote, 'being-towards-death' paradoxically awakens us to a genuine presence.

The fourth territory explores loneliness and connection with others. We are all ultimately alone in our experience (no one can live your life for you), but we also need deep and meaningful connection. Therapy explores how we build relationships and how we find a balance between our individuality and belonging to something greater.

Imagine not a doctor's appointment, but an honest and open dialogue between two people. Your therapist is not a detached expert who 'makes a diagnosis,' but rather a fellow traveler who helps you explore your own world. They will not give ready-made answers, but will ask the right questions and create a safe space where you can be yourself, without masks or pretense.

The main thing in existential therapy is not techniques and methods, but the quality of the relationship between the therapist and the client. This relationship should be caring, honest, and supportive, yet at the same time demanding and authentic. In such a collaborative dialogue, the therapist and client build a joint exploration of how a person exists in the world, what narrows their horizon of possibilities and what expands it. It is in this living interaction, in this space of genuine encounter, that transformation occurs.

The goal is not to 'fix' you, but to help you better understand yourself and your place in the world, to accept life's inevitable difficulties and paradoxes, to find the courage to live in accordance with your values, and to gain more life energy and a sense of fulfillment.

Existential therapy can be useful for anyone who feels lost or is at a crossroads in life, experiences chronic anxiety, apathy, or a sense of emptiness, is going through major life changes (loss, emigration, career change, age-related crises), or simply wants to exist more consciously, deeply, and authentically.

This is a journey to oneself. It requires courage, but the reward is not just getting rid of problems, but gaining the ability to live a fuller, more meaningful, and vibrant reality, accepting it in all its complexity and beauty.