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Article Excerpt
A sound theoretical approach is essential to the professional integrity of mental health counselors. This article examines the basic concepts of existential theory, indicates how this theory provides a sound theoretical basis for mental health counseling, and supports the thesis that brief solution-focused therapy is a clinical application of existential theory. An illustration of brief solution-focused existential therapy is provided from the author's experience counseling tsunami victims in Sri Lanka.
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The existential approach disclaims the deterministic view of human nature and emphasizes the freedom that human beings have to choose what to make of their circumstances. One of the main goals existential-humanists share is for their clients to get in touch with their real selves and to make deliberate choices in accordance with the real self and its wants, rather than permitting other persons or events to determine their behavior. One's real self is the way one is, with authentic feelings and emotions. When individuals are able to see themselves with their own feelings and emotions, they are also able to see their potential to grow and improve. Moustakas (1994) observed that when people are dominated by public opinion and affected by the world outside, they are in a state of fallenness. In this state individuals take on the values, ideas, and beliefs of others and lose their individuality. They become distracted by superficial relationships and lose focus on their potential to express their unique existence. The existential approach calls for individuals to make choices for themselves, while taking into consideration their role in the family and community in doing so.
MacDonald (1991) has noted that the resistance of some mental health counselors to identify with a single theory may be the consequence of their belief that a single theory cannot be relevant to their diverse clienteles. Additionally, Harris (1991) has observed that some counselors may not find available theories applicable to all settings. Bauman and Waldo (1998) have argued that existentialism addresses both of these concerns. They proposed that existential theory is exclusively suited to the field of mental health counseling, presents undeniable explanations of the importance of these mental health counseling principles, and offers a theoretical foundation which directs mental health counseling interventions. Vontress, in his interview with Epp (1998), characterized mental health as being in balance and harmony with one's inner-self; with one's friends, family, and colleagues; with one's physical environment; and with one's spirituality. He contended that the existential standard of mental health is an advanced standard and the existential counselor considers every area of the client's life to make sure each part is satisfied.
In recent years mental health professionals have identified brief, short-term interventions that have gained considerable attention due primarily to their cost-effectiveness (Langenbucher, 1994). One such approach is solution-focused brief therapy. Solution-focused therapy (SFT) has evolved over the past 20 years and is now a widely used approach (Gingerich & Eisengart, 2000). SFT encourages the client to develop a vision of an alternative future. This approach "does not attempt to eliminate problems but rather attempts to develop new meanings or new ways of looking at problems so that the process of solution building can begin" (Bezanson, 2004, p. 184).
The purpose of this paper is to address the void in the literature on the integration of existential concerns into solution-focused brief therapy. The paper proceeds as follows. First, I provide an overview of existential theory, its key concepts, the role of the counselor, therapeutic goals, counselor-client relationship issues, and central techniques and methods. Second, I present a brief overview of solution-focused therapy concepts and interventions. Third, I provide a practical application of existential theory as it pertains to solution-focused brief therapy.
OVERVIEW OF EXISTENTIAL THEORY
The four givens, or premises, of the human condition that existential psychology addresses are discussed in this section. These "givens" are an inescapable part of human existence in the world and can be labeled as death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness. Existential therapy deals with a basic anxiety that comes out of each person's accomplishments and undertakings---conscious and unconscious--to deal with the complex facts of life that are rooted in the person's existence (Yalom, 1980).
Awareness of death and its certainty bring terror, because humans wish to continue to live and are terrified by the concept of "nonbeing" (Bauman & Waldo, 1998). Death is inevitable, both our own death and the death of our loved ones. This "given" is perhaps the most obvious, and is evident through the enormous efforts of human beings, using modern technology, to extend life and escape death's grasp. With regard to freedom, we cannot avoid the freedom that we possess to do as we wish in creating our world and ourselves. We have to make up our own life stories. The givens of death and freedom are brought to our attention when they are addressed and confronted by the character of Trudi in the novel Stones from the River (Hegi, 1994). Trudi is a zwerg, a dwarf, growing up in 20th century Germany. She uses an enormous amount of energy in futile efforts to grow, until she realizes that she would die someday and until then it is left to her to resolve what would happen to her. Trudi realized the humbling and unavoidable responsibility that accompanies the freedom to shape her life.
Existential isolation refers to the unavoidable fact that no matter how close we may find ourselves to another person, there is a fundamental separateness that we cannot remove. This ultimate aloneness of the human condition is that we enter and leave the world alone despite our ardent wish to fuse with others or be protected by them (Bauman & Waldo, 1998). Most people when dying are clearly aware of their isolation. We have sometimes seen our loved ones who have been terminally ill turn away from us as their lives come to an end.
The last "given" discussed by Yalom (1980) is meaninglessness, which implies absence of any apparent meaning or sense to our life. When people believe that there is no pre-designed direction or pre-approved plan for their life and recognize that there is no meaning innate in the universe,...
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