Assignment Rubric
To prepare:
- Review the humanistic-existential psychotherapy videos in this week’s Learning Resources.
- Reflect on humanistic-existential psychotherapeutic approaches.
- Then, select another psychotherapeutic approach to compare with humanistic-existential
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjDNKGIvWPQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl8tVTjdocI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvAvc2aWup0
In two pages,
- Briefly describe humanistic-existential psychotherapy and the second approach you selected.
- Explain at least three differences between these therapies. Include how these differences might impact your practice as a PMHNP.
- Focusing on one video you viewed, explain why humanistic-existential psychotherapy was utilized with the patient in the video and why it was the treatment of choice. Describe the expected potential outcome if the second approach had been used with the patient.
- Support your response with specific examples from this week’s media and at least three peer-reviewed, evidence-based sources. Explain why each of your supporting sources is considered scholarly. Attach the PDFs of your sources.
Comparing Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy with Other Approaches
Introduction
Psychotherapy approaches are used in the treatment of mental health. Psychotherapy is also known as talk therapy since it involves conversations between a patent and a trained, therapist, psychotherapist, or counselor (Prasko et al., 2012). Some of the issues to discuss in a psychotherapy session include personal history, emotions, relationships, and others. In that regard, the purpose of this paper is to compare humanistic-existential therapy with another psychotherapy approach.
Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Humanistic-existential psychotherapy encourages the therapist to show absolute positive regard to the patient. It gives much emphasis to the whole person, rather than particular behaviors that define a specific psychological behavior (Prasko et al., 2012). Humanistic-existential psychotherapy is based on the idea that every human has an intrapsychic conflict with things around them that are inherent in human existence. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps individuals to learn about disturbing thought patterns that have a bad influence on emotions and behavior. The primary objective of cognitive behavioral therapy is to change negative thought patterns and behaviors. CBT is based on several core principles (Fordham et al., 2018). CBT believes that psychological principles are based on unhelpful or faulty ways of thinking.
Differences Between Humanistic-Existential and CBT Psychotherapies
Humanistic-existential psychotherapy focus on helping people to acquire greater awareness of themselves and the world around them to discover the uniqueness and meaning of their life (Prasko et al., 2012). On the other hand, cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on the patient’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and how they are acquired and controlled. Another difference is that humanistic-existential therapy is based on the idea of conscious choice that incorporates human freedom, responsibility, and authenticity (Prasko et al., 2012). On the other hand, cognitive behavioral therapy does not focus on responsibility and authenticity.
The third difference is that humanistic-existential therapy incorporates a positive approach that makes the individual better in its entirety. While CBT focuses on an individual’s thoughts and behavior. The differences can influence PMHNP practice in the sense that the therapist must evaluate the needs of the patient to determine the best approach (Fordham et al., 2018). If the patient needs to be aware of himself and the environment around humanistic approaches will be used. However, if the patient needs simply thought modifications then CBT will be the preferred approach.
Why Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy Was Utilized in The Video
The patient mentioned in the video is named Joe. According to the therapist, Joe reported that he does not feel very alive. He underwent therapy two years ago and had anger issues (PsychotherapyNet, 2009). Currently, Joe reports experiencing difficulty understanding his environment and he feels constricted. The therapist used humanistic-existential therapy, in this case, to help Joe regain the capacity for self-awareness and choice. The patient does not understand his environment and has lost self-identity (PsychotherapyNet, 2009). The humanistic approach was chosen to help him restore all these issues and elements to make him a whole person.
The Outcome if CBT was Used
Has cognitive behavioral therapy had been used, the result would have not been very effective because CBT focuses on the modification of thoughts and behavior but does not give one the opportunity to self and environmental awareness (Fordham et al., 2018). It would not be possible for the patient to regain identity and understand his environment. The humanistic approach was preferred to help the patient realize the meaning, value, and purpose of life.
Conclusion
Psychotherapy approaches are effective in treating mental health disorders. Humanistic existential psychotherapy and CBT take different approaches to treatment. However, they have a common goal to improve the mental health of patients. Humanistic-Existential was applied in the video to treat the patient.
References
Fordham, B., Sugavanam, T., Hopewell, S., Hemming, K., Howick, J., Kirtley, S, & Lamb, S. E. (2018). Effectiveness of cognitive–behavioural therapy: a protocol for an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. BMJ open, 8(12), e025761. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025761
Prasko, J., Mainerova, B., Jelenova, D., Kamaradova, D., & Sigmundova, Z. (2012). Existential perspectives and cognitive behavioral therapy. Activitas Nervosa Superior Rediviva, 54(1), 3-14. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Daniela-Jelenova/publication/268435793_Existential_perspectives_and_cognitive_behavioral_therapy/links/54c63cf90cf2911c7a57b82e/Existential-perspectives-and-cognitive-behavioral-therapy.pdf?_sg%5B0%5D=started_experiment_milestone&origin=journalDetail
PsychotherapyNet. (2009, Jun 30). James Bugental Live Case Consultation Psychotherapy Video. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl8tVTjdocI