Person-Centered, Existential, and Gestalt therapies

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Let's take a closer look at the three therapies, which you can draw on for your final copy.

RESPONSE:

1. Compare and contrast Person-Centered, Existential, and Gestalt therapies.

Existential Therapy

Existential therapy focuses on freedom of choice and the client has freedom to shape her or his life. The therapist teaches the client to be responsible in this shaping process and helps them see a need for self-determination and self-awareness. The therapist believes in the uniqueness of each individual. This uniqueness forms her or his unique personality that begins from infancy. Like client-centered therapy, existential therapy focuses on the present, but also on the future. The therapist helps the client see they are free to make choices and to see the many possibilities for their future. The therapist challenges the client to become aware that she or he is responsible for what happens in their life. Existential therapy is helpful in moving the client to make good choices or in dealing with life. (psyweb.com/Mdisord/MdisordADV/AdvPsych.jsp)

Unlike client-centered therapy, Existential Therapy's goal is to free or liberate the client "from past, current and future fears and the resultant inhibiting thought, feelings and actions." (www.choosingchange.com.au/therapy_modalities.htm). Existential therapy is talk therapy like the other two therapies. From this approach the therapist establishes a dialogue asking "what" and "how" but never "why", that most often leads to an existential understanding.(www.choosingchange.com.au/therapy_modalities.htm)

Existential Therapy is especially helpful for clients facing developmental issues, such as an adolescent struggling with identity issues, the middle-aged client in crisis, and where client's are advancing toward old age. These are times when existential questions are often asked. However, it can also be helpful with other human ...