Existential Therapy

What is Existential Therapy?

Think of existential therapy as a deep conversation about what it means to be human. Instead of focusing strictly on mental health labels or diagnosing symptoms, it looks at the bigger picture of your life.

It is designed to help you step back, figure out who you are, and make sense of your place in the world.

Core ideas of Existential Therapy

• Facing life’s big questions
  We all deal with heavy thoughts sometimes—like wondering what our life means, worrying about the future, or fearing the unknown. This therapy doesn't try to hide from those fears; it looks right at them with you.

• You are in the driver's seat
  The core belief is that while life can be uncertain, you have the power and the responsibility to make your own choices and shape your own path.

• Balancing expectations
  As therapist Susie Masterson points out, it helps you find balance between who you want to be and the pressures or expectations put on you by society, culture, or family.

• Focusing on the here and now
  While your past history is respected, this therapy doesn't spend hours digging through your childhood. Instead, it focuses on right now—how you are living your life today and the choices you are making moving forward.

How it compares to other therapies

It’s all about you (this is known as 'Client-centred'): Just like humanistic therapy, the therapist isn't there to give you a rigid blueprint or tell you what to do. They walk alongside you, empowering you to find your own answers.

Many therapists don't use only this approach. They mix it with other styles of therapy to best fit what you need.