NRNP 6645 Week 7 Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy

Introduction: In this week 7 assignment we are discussing humanistic-existential psychotherapy and a second approach to therapy called interpersonal therapy. There are at least three differences that stand out between the two approaches that may impact PMHNP practice that will be discussed. A video that displayed the humanistic-existential psychotherapy approach in action will be viewed and examined; as well as how interpersonal therapy in the same example could have had a positive or negative outcome in the same patient experience. Humanistic-existential psychotherapy: Humanistic-existential psychotherapy consists of a substantial group of psychotherapies. Within these groups philosophical assumptions that rest on the philosophies of humanism, existentialism, and phenomenology triumph[ CITATION Whe22 l 1033 ]. Humanistic- existential psychotherapy focuses on understanding the human experience and focusing on the client rather than the symptoms[ CITATION Cen99 l 1033 ]. Acceptance, growth, responsibility, and freedom are four essential elements of humanistic-existential psychotherapy lOMoAR cPSD| P a g e | 3 [ CITATION Cen99 l 1033 ]. Some characteristics of humanistic-existential psychotherapy are commitment to the phenomenological perspective, centrality of the therapeutic relationship, belief in holism, focus on the here and now, emphasis on humanistic-existential themes, prominence of process, and use of experiential techniques[ CITATION Whe22 l 1033 ]. lOMoAR cPSD| P a g e | 4 Interpersonal psychotherapy: Was first developed to help those patients that suffered from depression. IPT is a brief, structured psychotherapeutic approach based on the operating principle that psychiatric disorders occur within an interpersonal, social context[ CITATION Whe22 l 1033 ]. Oxford Academy defines IPT as a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the “Here and Now,” not elements that have happened to the individual in the past; sessions are time sensitive and focus on the triggers that have caused depression[ CITATION Oxf16 l 1033 ]. Humanistic-existential psychotherapy vs Interpersonal Psychotherapy: Three differences that stand out between Humanistic-existential psychotherapy and interpersonal psychotherapy are: 1. Humanistic-existential psychotherapists believe in a phenomenological approach when providing therapy for their clients. The phenomenological approach states that patients are uniquely capable of reflective consciousness and the capacity leads to self- determination and self-actualization[ CITATION Whe22 l 1033 ]. Interpersonal therapy, unlike Humanistic-existential psychotherapy, is more of a focused form of therapy. The therapist focuses on the here and now and not past events. IPT is not open ended as humanistic-existential psychotherapy may be. 2. IPT is time limited. The IPT therapist establishes from the first session the start and ending period of the therapy[ CITATION Oxf16 l 1033 ]. Time is limited and not long lOMoAR cPSD| P a g e | 5 term. In contrast humanistic-existential psychotherapy has no timeframe. The therapist focuses on holism and prominence of process, which can take an exuberant amount of time to capture. 3. Humanistic-existential psychotherapy has no techniques, only people according to Walter Kempler[ CITATION Nic20 l 1033 ]. Humanistic-existential psychotherapy hold on to the belief that it is the individual that is naturally resourceful and if left to their own devices will be able to provide their own rehabilitation[ CITATION Nic20 l 1033 ]. In humanistic-existential psychotherapy it is the patient that breaks through their own barriers. Moreover, in IPT there are set phases that the therapist follows to gain results. In IPT there are three phases that therapist follow. a phase 1: Is the initial session, which focuses on the initial assessment. Middle phase is the active treatment phase, and the final phase also called the termination phase focuses on ending treatment and preventing relapse[ CITATION Whe22 l 1033 ]. Video of Humanistic-existential psychotherapy: In the video entitled "James Bugental Live Case Consultation Psychotherapy,” James Bugental PhD gives the viewers a firsthand look at how a real humanistic-existential psychotherapy session really goes. What I was able to observe from the video is the therapist providing the client’s a therapeutic dialogue encounter. The therapist focused on empathic understanding and it seemed like the clients also had a very high level of trust with the therapist. Depending on the setting, rather it be individual or group, the therapist provided a holistic feel to the session that focused on humanistic themes.