Existential Therapy Is More than Philosophy-And It Works

"Human suffering often arises not from a chemical imbalance or a distorted cognition but from a psychological narrowing, a habitual refusal to face the full, paradoxical, often uncomfortable totality of our human experience."

"A 2023 research review by psychological researcher Dr. Joel Vos synthesizes the empirical literature and arrives at a clear answer: yes, with effect sizes comparable to those of other psychotherapeutic modalities."

"We may suppress death anxiety by staying perpetually busy, or silence the question of meaning by chasing the next goal; other times, we may avoid freedom by telling ourselves we had no choice."

Human suffering frequently arises from a psychological narrowing and avoidance of life's paradoxes. Meaning-centered therapies have shown large, lasting reductions in distress across 60 clinical trials. Symptoms like depression and anxiety often indicate deeper existential questions. Existential psychotherapy addresses these issues and has been validated by recent research, confirming its effectiveness. The core idea is that suffering is not merely due to chemical imbalances but rather a refusal to confront the complexities of human experience, leading to avoidance behaviors that suppress deeper existential concerns.

Read at Psychology Today