Month: February 2025

by Don Laird, NCC, LPC

Life can be full of uncertainty, challenges, and moments of doubt. At times, these struggles can lead to feelings of isolation, confusion, or a lack of purpose. Existential therapy offers a unique way to approach these feelings, focusing on understanding the deeper questions of life, such as meaning, mortality, loneliness, and personal responsibility. If you’re grappling with a sense of dissatisfaction or are unsure about where you’re headed, existential therapy could be the key to finding clarity and purpose.

What Is Existential Therapy?

Rooted in existential philosophy, this therapeutic approach emphasizes the human experience and the importance of confronting life’s uncertainties rather than avoiding them. Unlike traditional therapies that may focus on diagnosing or treating specific mental health conditions, existential therapy encourages self-exploration and reflection on fundamental aspects of existence, such as identity, isolation, freedom, and mortality. In short, it looks beyond the symptoms and sees the client as a whole person, helping individuals examine their personal values, desires, and the choices they make. Instead of offering clear-cut solutions, existential therapy invites you to find your own answers to life’s most pressing questions, empowering you to live more authentically.

Finding Meaning in Life

One of the key elements of existential therapy is the exploration of meaning. People often experience a sense of meaninglessness, especially when faced with major life transitions, loss, or difficult situations. Existential therapy provides a space to reflect on your life’s purpose, your values, and what truly matters to you. By addressing the bigger questions about your existence, you gain the opportunity to make more purposeful choices, moving away from simply going through the motions.

The therapist’s role in existential therapy is not to give advice, but to guide you through these reflections, helping you become more aware of your own desires and aspirations. It can also be liberating, as it shifts the focus from external expectations and pressures to your own internal compass and your true north. As you understand what is truly meaningful to you, you can begin to align your actions with your authentic self.

Personal Responsibility and Freedom

Existential therapy highlights the idea that we all have the freedom to make choices and take responsibility for our lives. While this can be empowering, it can also feel overwhelming. The realization that we are responsible for our decisions, our actions, and our reactions can bring up feelings of anxiety. Existential therapy encourages you to embrace this freedom and recognize that, despite life’s challenges, you have the power to shape your future.

In addressing issues like fear of the unknown or anxiety about making the wrong choices, existential therapy fosters a deeper sense of self-awareness. It helps you confront the reality that life is uncertain, but it also teaches you how to find peace with that uncertainty. By learning to accept responsibility for your choices, you can move forward with greater confidence, knowing that your actions are aligned with your values.

Embracing Mortality

Another central theme in existential therapy is the awareness of mortality. While acknowledging death can seem uncomfortable and create anxiety, it can also bring clarity to life. By confronting the inevitable reality of mortality, existential therapy encourages you to live more fully in the present, making the most of your time and relationships. It can inspire a sense of urgency to pursue your passions and invest in what truly matters.

How Existential Therapy Helps You Create a Life Worth Living

At its core, existential therapy helps you live an authentic life by encouraging you to examine your values, question societal norms, and take ownership of your choices. It is not about escaping discomfort or finding quick fixes; it is about developing a deeper understanding of yourself and your place in the world. If you’re struggling with feelings of emptiness, confusion, or the weight of life’s challenges, existential therapy offers a transformative path toward a more meaningful and fulfilling existence.

By confronting your fears, recognizing your agency, and living authentically, you can build a life that aligns with who you truly are.

by Don Laird, NCC, LPC

In an era where uncertainty seems to be our constant companion, most find themselves grappling with questions of meaning, purpose, isolation, and the unpredictability of life. Existential therapy offers a powerful and relational approach to coping with these challenges by focusing on basic human experiences such as responsibility, isolation, death, and meaning.

At its core, existential therapy encourages individuals to confront the anxiety that naturally arises from the human condition. Rather than avoiding discomfort, this therapy method invites clients to explore the inherent unpredictability of life, partner with their anxiety, and find personal meaning within it. By acknowledging that suffering is an unavoidable part of existence, individuals can develop a deeper sense of agency, rather than feeling overwhelmed by it.

Therapists using this approach help clients explore their values, beliefs, and fears, fostering self-awareness and empowering them to make conscious choices, even in the face of ambiguity or chaos. Through this process, clients often learn to embrace the “here and now,” and shift their focus from trying to control the future to engaging more fully with life as it unfolds.

In uncertain times, existential therapy provides a grounding force, reminding us that while we can’t always control what happens around us, we have the power to shape how we respond. It encourages a life lived with purpose, authenticity, and agency, despite the unpredictability of the world.