Existential Therapy
Existential therapy is not a distinct or well-organized counseling model. In fact, the founders of existential therapy did not aim to create a separate school of therapy, but rather that its key concepts and themes would become integrated into all therapeutic schools (May & Yalom, 2000). Bugental and Bracke (1992) see the possibility of a creative integration of the conceptual propositions of existential therapy with psychodynamic or cognitive approaches. They indicate that experienced clinicians of contrasting orientations often accept some existential concepts and thus operate implicitly within an existential framework.
Gestalt Therapy: A Holistic Perspective Gestalt therapy is truly an integrative orientation in that it
focuses on whatever is in the client’s awareness. From the Gestalt perspective, feelings, thoughts, body sensations and actions are all used as a guide to understanding what is central for the client in each moment. The centrality of whatever is in the client’s awareness is an ideal way to understand the world of the client. A Gestalt therapist approaches clients without a preconceived set of biases or a set agenda. Instead, emphasis is placed on what occurs phenomenologically with the client. By paying attention to the obvious verbal and nonverbal leads provided, the therapist has a starting point for exploring the client’s world.
