Humanistic and Existential Therapies for Anxiety
Several forms of psychotherapy either disagree with the
assumptions of psychodynamic theory or modify them
in certain ways. The neo-Freudians accept most psychodynamic
principles but reject the emphasis placed by
psychoanalytic theory on instinctual unconscious impulses. Humanistic
therapies emphasize people's desire to achieve high consciousness.
Therapy VS. Hypnosis
A hypnotist can produce a relaxed and suggestible state in subjects willing to be hypnotized.
Some points often overlap those of humanistic therapists, emphasize
the need to confront basic questions of existence, such as: What is the meaning of my life.
Client-Centered Therapy-Anxiety
Carl Rogers, the founder of client-centered therapy,
saw the individual as seeking personal growth but needing
the support of an appreciative, accepting therapist.
The therapist is a nondirective facilitator who encourages
the client's self-exploration and efforts to achieve
greater maturity and self-confidence. Whereas in psychoanalysis
the therapeutic relationship-transference
and countertransference-and the analyst's interpretations
help clients solve personal problems, the client-centered
therapy a nonjudgmental therapist facilitates the
process of self-understanding by serving as a mirror for
the client.
As a group, client-centered therapists have been
among the leaders in research about what actually goes
on in psychotherapy. Rogers saw psychotherapy as a
growth process and encouraged objective study of the
events that occur as therapy progresses. He recognized
that people's ideas and ways of looking at the world
influencing their emotional lives.
The client-centered therapist believes that perceptions
and cognitions determine whether an individual
has warm, positive interpersonal relationships or
strained relationships that stir up unpleasant emotions.
As the client restructures his or her view of the world
troubling emotions such as anxiety and anger become
less potent.
For example:
The client-centered therapy is present-oriented and existential. Labels
and diagnoses are not useful. What is needed is unconditional
positive regard reflected in the therapist's' nonjudgmental,
empathetic listening. Whereas a behavior
therapist would concentrate on getting clients to
change their behavior. A Rogerian therapist would concentrate
on supplying an environment in which the
client feels free to express thoughts and feelings. The
Rogerian therapist assumes that unconditional positive
regard will increase the client's self-acceptance and self knowledge,
which, in turn, will lead the client to change his or her behavior.
Existential Therapy for Anxiety
Existential therapies also emphasize the present and
the need to recognize the uniqueness of each client. Existential
therapists work as partners with their clients.
Many combine humanistic and psychodynamic approaches
in dealing with anxiety, its causes, and the defenses
that the client erects to cope with it. In this sense
the existential approach is a therapeutic hybrid.
The emphasis of existential therapy is on helping
clients come to terms with basic issues concerning the
meaning and direction of their lives and the choices by
which they shape their own destiny. Like the majority
of clinicians who see non-hospitalized clients most existential
therapists work with people who are troubled by
anxiety and depression. Existential therapists see their
primary role as helping lonely people make constructive
choices and become confident enough to fulfill their
unique selves rather than repressing or distorting their
experiences.
When I started coming here I saw my problem as
anger-toward other people as well as myself. There
were times I felt like a seething inferno. You sat there
as I ranted and raved and I really appreciated the
fact that you listened so attentively to everything I
said. Sometimes you would reflect back to me what I
had just said) some times you would just ask a
question about a comment I had made. I don't really
know how it happened but I began thinking about
why I get so angry at home. Then a lot of things fell
into place. I was angry because I was doing things I
didn't want to do. I was doing those things out of
guilt and obligation. Why should I think I had to be
nice to people I can’t stand? When I finally realized
that I didn’t have to do certain things I became
more spontaneous and less angry.
Client-centered therapists believe that people are
basically good and that no feelings are intrinsically
destructive appear to be destructive feelings reflect
externally imposed distortions that resemble the contortions
of a plant trying to grow under a brick.
assumptions of psychodynamic theory or modify them
in certain ways. The neo-Freudians accept most psychodynamic
principles but reject the emphasis placed by
psychoanalytic theory on instinctual unconscious impulses. Humanistic
therapies emphasize people's desire to achieve high consciousness.
Therapy VS. Hypnosis
A hypnotist can produce a relaxed and suggestible state in subjects willing to be hypnotized.
Some points often overlap those of humanistic therapists, emphasize
the need to confront basic questions of existence, such as: What is the meaning of my life.
Client-Centered Therapy-Anxiety
Carl Rogers, the founder of client-centered therapy,
saw the individual as seeking personal growth but needing
the support of an appreciative, accepting therapist.
The therapist is a nondirective facilitator who encourages
the client's self-exploration and efforts to achieve
greater maturity and self-confidence. Whereas in psychoanalysis
the therapeutic relationship-transference
and countertransference-and the analyst's interpretations
help clients solve personal problems, the client-centered
therapy a nonjudgmental therapist facilitates the
process of self-understanding by serving as a mirror for
the client.
As a group, client-centered therapists have been
among the leaders in research about what actually goes
on in psychotherapy. Rogers saw psychotherapy as a
growth process and encouraged objective study of the
events that occur as therapy progresses. He recognized
that people's ideas and ways of looking at the world
influencing their emotional lives.
The client-centered therapist believes that perceptions
and cognitions determine whether an individual
has warm, positive interpersonal relationships or
strained relationships that stir up unpleasant emotions.
As the client restructures his or her view of the world
troubling emotions such as anxiety and anger become
less potent.
For example:
The client-centered therapy is present-oriented and existential. Labels
and diagnoses are not useful. What is needed is unconditional
positive regard reflected in the therapist's' nonjudgmental,
empathetic listening. Whereas a behavior
therapist would concentrate on getting clients to
change their behavior. A Rogerian therapist would concentrate
on supplying an environment in which the
client feels free to express thoughts and feelings. The
Rogerian therapist assumes that unconditional positive
regard will increase the client's self-acceptance and self knowledge,
which, in turn, will lead the client to change his or her behavior.
Existential Therapy for Anxiety
Existential therapies also emphasize the present and
the need to recognize the uniqueness of each client. Existential
therapists work as partners with their clients.
Many combine humanistic and psychodynamic approaches
in dealing with anxiety, its causes, and the defenses
that the client erects to cope with it. In this sense
the existential approach is a therapeutic hybrid.
The emphasis of existential therapy is on helping
clients come to terms with basic issues concerning the
meaning and direction of their lives and the choices by
which they shape their own destiny. Like the majority
of clinicians who see non-hospitalized clients most existential
therapists work with people who are troubled by
anxiety and depression. Existential therapists see their
primary role as helping lonely people make constructive
choices and become confident enough to fulfill their
unique selves rather than repressing or distorting their
experiences.
When I started coming here I saw my problem as
anger-toward other people as well as myself. There
were times I felt like a seething inferno. You sat there
as I ranted and raved and I really appreciated the
fact that you listened so attentively to everything I
said. Sometimes you would reflect back to me what I
had just said) some times you would just ask a
question about a comment I had made. I don't really
know how it happened but I began thinking about
why I get so angry at home. Then a lot of things fell
into place. I was angry because I was doing things I
didn't want to do. I was doing those things out of
guilt and obligation. Why should I think I had to be
nice to people I can’t stand? When I finally realized
that I didn’t have to do certain things I became
more spontaneous and less angry.
Client-centered therapists believe that people are
basically good and that no feelings are intrinsically
destructive appear to be destructive feelings reflect
externally imposed distortions that resemble the contortions
of a plant trying to grow under a brick.