A Critical Evaluation of the Theories and Practices in Existential Psychotherapy

The paper highlights a few issues that have emerged over the years in the understanding and practice of existential psychotherapy. It starts out by tracing the existential and phenomenological traditions of the early 20th century which led to the emergence of existential psychotherapy. Next, it highlights the relationship between existential philosophy and the practice of existential psychotherapy. The article also summarizes problems associated with existential psychotherapy, particularly the difficulties in its empirical testing and defining its theoretical boundaries. It also summarizes popular misconceptions about existential psychotherapy and its connection to other schools of psychotherapy. Finally, the article also talks about issues of religion in practice of existential psychotherapy.