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Existential Psychotherapy
Existential Psychotherapy is not derived from the psychology movement but is an in-depth, experiential method of therapy drawing on thousands of years of philosophy. Unlike psychology, Existential Psychotherapy and Analysis does not use theoretical models, general rules or statistics to understand people, but instead helps us focus our individual awareness and natural curiosity in a process of learning by doing. Learning by directly experiencing allows us to decide for ourselves what is right for us. This is in contrast to the kind of learning derived from books and being given information by someone else. Experiential therapy happens within a safe, honest, non-judgemental relationship that allows us to discover new and more fulfilling ways of living and overcoming life problems.
Awareness
At the centre of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.
- Lao Tzu, c.6th-4th century BC
Being aware is the key to understanding and appreciating the world, others and ourselves. Awareness brings freedom, choice, and helps us restore trust in ourselves and the self-support needed to live a more rewarding and genuine life. Existential Psychotherapy will provide you with the skills you need to continually develop your awareness so that you can meet your needs and responsibilities more directly.
Acceptance
[...] to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.
- Hamlet, William Shakespeare, 1564-1616
Often we want to control life by ‘getting rid of’, denying or ignoring unwanted feelings, thoughts and experiences. This typically leads to a build up of ‘symptoms’, tension and vulnerability. Existential Psychotherapy can help you discover the meaning and needs expressed in difficult experiences whilst learning ways of finding peace in yourself through a process of change that is natural to you.
Change
Everything in the world is in the process of change. You are also in the process of change.
- Marcus Aurelius, 121-180
Change is central to life. Distress and unhappiness are often caused by our attempts to resist change by making life conform to familiar, predictable patterns. When we fail to do this we can be left with a sense of helplessness, loss of control, loss of life meaning, worry or emptiness. Existential Psychotherapy helps you discover how - through direct action - the change process can be healing and renewing.
Wholeness and Relationship
Psychotherapy must remain an obstinate attempt of two people to recover the wholeness of being human through the relationship between them.
- R.D.Laing, 1927-1989
We recover a sense of our wholeness in proportion to our willingness to accept change. You and your therapist will form a relationship that cultivates personal freedom, courage and power in a creative way that takes full account of your particular needs.
Existential Psychotherapy is not derived from the psychology movement but is an in-depth, experiential method of therapy drawing on thousands of years of philosophy. Unlike psychology, Existential Psychotherapy and Analysis does not use theoretical models, general rules or statistics to understand people, but instead helps us focus our individual awareness and natural curiosity in a process of learning by doing. Learning by directly experiencing allows us to decide for ourselves what is right for us. This is in contrast to the kind of learning derived from books and being given information by someone else. Experiential therapy happens within a safe, honest, non-judgemental relationship that allows us to discover new and more fulfilling ways of living and overcoming life problems.
Awareness
At the centre of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.
- Lao Tzu, c.6th-4th century BC
Being aware is the key to understanding and appreciating the world, others and ourselves. Awareness brings freedom, choice, and helps us restore trust in ourselves and the self-support needed to live a more rewarding and genuine life. Existential Psychotherapy will provide you with the skills you need to continually develop your awareness so that you can meet your needs and responsibilities more directly.
Acceptance
[...] to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.
- Hamlet, William Shakespeare, 1564-1616
Often we want to control life by ‘getting rid of’, denying or ignoring unwanted feelings, thoughts and experiences. This typically leads to a build up of ‘symptoms’, tension and vulnerability. Existential Psychotherapy can help you discover the meaning and needs expressed in difficult experiences whilst learning ways of finding peace in yourself through a process of change that is natural to you.
Change
Everything in the world is in the process of change. You are also in the process of change.
- Marcus Aurelius, 121-180
Change is central to life. Distress and unhappiness are often caused by our attempts to resist change by making life conform to familiar, predictable patterns. When we fail to do this we can be left with a sense of helplessness, loss of control, loss of life meaning, worry or emptiness. Existential Psychotherapy helps you discover how - through direct action - the change process can be healing and renewing.
Wholeness and Relationship
Psychotherapy must remain an obstinate attempt of two people to recover the wholeness of being human through the relationship between them.
- R.D.Laing, 1927-1989
We recover a sense of our wholeness in proportion to our willingness to accept change. You and your therapist will form a relationship that cultivates personal freedom, courage and power in a creative way that takes full account of your particular needs.
Stephen Forrest
Existential Analysis, Psychotherapy, Counselling & Personal Development
Existential Analysis, Psychotherapy, Counselling & Personal Development
Ambivalence
Oil on Canvas
Copyright © 1996 Stephen Forrest
Oil on Canvas
Copyright © 1996 Stephen Forrest
Copyright © 2006 Stephen Forrest. All Rights Reserved
