Existential psychological therapies: An overview of empirical research

Abstract

Background

Existential therapies are a range of psychotherapies inspired by existential and phenomenological philosophers. Although relatively little empirical research was conducted on their therapeutic model and outcomes in the early days, a substantial body of research has evolved.

Aim

This article aims to give an overview of the empirical literature on existential therapies. This article will be divided into four parts: empirical research on existential practices, key concepts, critical therapeutic competences, and outcomes of existential therapies.

Method

This article will review findings from previous systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses.

Findings

The etiological model in many existential therapies seems to focus on how individuals may limit the totality of their subjective experiences. Ignoring or denying a part of the totality of their experiences limits their opportunities to live a meaningful, fulfilling and mentally healthy life and cope in beneficial ways with life's inevitable limitations and challenges. Their clinical concerns may include existential moods, detailed questions, or crises about life, meaning, identity or spirituality. Existential therapists may help via several evidence-based competencies: phenomenological and experiential skills, relational skills, explicating existential themes and processes, school-specific and meta-competences. Meta-analyses show that some existential therapies (particularly meaning-centred therapies) have large positive effects on psychological and physical well-being and overall quality-of-life.

Discussion

A large body of empirical literature supports the key therapeutic existential concepts, competences, and outcomes. The discussion compares this literature with other therapies, showing that existential therapies have similarly strong empirical support. These findings indicate that existential therapies are bona fide therapies that may be considered for funding by health insurance and health services. Therapists and training institutes should focus on these evidence-based existential components.