Review The Humanistic Existential Psychotherapy Video 287911
Review The Humanistic Existential Psychotherapy Videos In This Week
Review the humanistic-existential psychotherapy videos in this week’s Learning Resources. Reflect on humanistic-existential psychotherapeutic approaches. Then, select another psychotherapeutic approach to compare with humanistic-existential psychotherapy. The approach you choose may be one you previously explored in the course or one you are familiar with and especially interested in. The Assignment In a 2- to 3-page paper, address the following: · Briefly describe humanistic-existential psychotherapy and the second approach you selected. · Explain at least three differences between these therapies. Include how these differences might impact your practice as a PMHNP. · Focusing on one video you viewed, explain why humanistic-existential psychotherapy was utilized with the patient in the video and why it was the treatment of choice. Describe the expected potential outcome if the second approach had been used with the patient. · Support your response with specific examples from this week’s media and at least three peer-reviewed, evidence-based sources. Explain why each of your supporting sources is considered scholarly. Attach the PDFs of your sources.
Paper For Above instruction
The humanistic-existential psychotherapy approach emphasizes personal growth, self-awareness, and the individual's inherent capacity for self-healing. Rooted in humanistic psychology, this therapy focuses on the individual's subjective experience, promoting authentic self-expression and the pursuit of meaning in life. It seeks to foster a strong therapeutic alliance through empathy and unconditional positive regard, encouraging clients to explore their existence, confront anxieties related to freedom and mortality, and discover their personal purpose. The approach is non-directive, allowing clients to lead the discussion, which facilitates a deep understanding of their own feelings and choices (Bugental, 1984; Yalom, 1980).
The second approach selected for comparison is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT is a structured, directive form of psychotherapy that aims to modify dysfunctional thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors to alleviate emotional distress (Beck, 2011). Unlike humanistic-existential therapy, which emphasizes personal meaning and existential concerns, CBT focuses on identifying and challenging maladaptive thought patterns through practical techniques such as cognitive restructuring and behavioral activation.
Three notable differences between these approaches include: First, humanistic-existential therapy emphasizes subjective experience and personal growth, while CBT emphasizes cognitive restructuring and behavioral change. Second, humanistic approaches prioritize client-led exploration and emotional expression, whereas CBT employs a structured, goal-oriented process led by the therapist. Third, the theoretical focus differs; humanistic-existential therapy centers on existential issues like mortality and freedom, whereas CBT concentrates on symptom alleviation through cognitive and behavioral interventions. These differences impact clinical practice; for example, as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), choosing between these approaches depends on client needs. For clients seeking meaningful life reflection, humanistic therapy fosters insight and self-acceptance. Conversely, for clients with acute symptoms requiring symptom management, CBT’s structured techniques may provide quicker relief and measurable progress.
Focusing on a specific video viewed this week, humanistic-existential psychotherapy was employed to facilitate the patient's exploration of personal meaning and emotional authenticity. In this video, the therapist demonstrated empathy and unconditional positive regard, encouraging the patient to openly discuss fears about mortality and existence. This therapeutic choice was appropriate because the client appeared to be struggling with existential anxiety and was seeking a deeper understanding of their purpose. Humanistic-existential therapy was used to foster acceptance and promote intrinsic motivation for change, facilitating increased self-awareness and meaning.
If a different approach, such as CBT, had been used with the patient, the expected outcome might have been a more immediate reduction in symptoms like anxiety or hopelessness by restructuring maladaptive thoughts related to mortality and personal worth. For example, cognitive techniques could have helped the patient challenge catastrophic thinking about death, leading to decreased anxiety and a sense of control (Hofmann et al., 2012). However, while symptom relief might occur more rapidly, the depth of insight into existential issues might be less profound compared to the humanistic approach, which aims for lasting change through self-acceptance and meaning-making.
References
- Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
- Bugental, J. F. T. (1984). The intentional approach to therapy. Springer.
- Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2012). The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Review of Meta-analyses. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36(5), 427-440.
- Yalom, I. D. (1980). Existential psychotherapy. Basic Books.
- Yalom, I. D., & Josselson, R. (2002). The space between: A theory of interpersonal influence. In V. C. McLeod (Ed.), The Cambridge handbook of psychotherapy theory (pp. 219-239). Cambridge University Press.