ABSTRACT

This study examined which themes therapists identify as existential and explored what happens when therapists engage with their clients’ existential concerns. Over two simultaneous studies, 19 participants were interviewed about working with existential themes. The first study consisted of experienced person-centered and existential psychotherapists and the second study of counselors or therapists working in a setting that would evoke existential themes. The data were first analyzed separately for both groups using Consensual Qualitative Research. Subsequently, a general cross analysis was conducted to achieve a meta-synthesis. Four existential themes were identified: Death and boundaries of life; Freedom, choice and responsibility; Connection and isolation; and Meaning and meaninglessness. In addition to providing a descriptive model of these themes, this study suggests that existential training might help therapists notice more implicit existential dynamics in the therapeutic process. Furthermore, engaging with clients’ existential concerns might make therapists more aware of their own existential reality which would help them to relate to existential themes differently. Experienced therapists can identify existential themes in their clients’ stories. However, specific existential training and personal reflection can deepen therapists’ openness towards existential issues and expand insight in existential processes.

摘要

这项研究检查了治疗师认为哪些主题是存在主义的，并探讨了当治疗师与客户的存在主义问题接触时会发生什么。在两项同时进行的研究中，19 名参与者接受了关于存在主义主题的采访。第一项研究由经验丰富的以人为本和存在主义心理治疗师组成，第二项研究由在会唤起存在主义主题的环境中工作的辅导员或治疗师组成。首先使用共识定性研究分别对两组数据进行分析。随后，进行了一般交叉分析以实现元合成。确定了四个存在主题：死亡和生命的界限；自由、选择和责任；连接和隔离；和意义和无意义。除了提供这些主题的描述性模型外，本研究表明，存在训练可能有助于治疗师在治疗过程中注意到更多隐含的存在动力学。此外，与来访者的存在问题打交道可能会使治疗师更加意识到他们自己的存在现实，这将帮助他们以不同的方式与存在主题相关联。经验丰富的治疗师可以识别客户故事中存在的主题。然而，特定的存在训练和个人反思可以加深治疗师对存在问题的开放性，并扩大对存在过程的洞察力。参与来访者的存在关注可能会使治疗师更加意识到他们自己的存在现实，这将帮助他们以不同的方式与存在主题相关联。经验丰富的治疗师可以识别客户故事中存在的主题。然而，特定的存在训练和个人反思可以加深治疗师对存在问题的开放性，并扩大对存在过程的洞察力。与来访者的存在关注点接触可能会使治疗师更加意识到他们自己的存在现实，这将帮助他们以不同的方式与存在主题相关联。经验丰富的治疗师可以识别客户故事中存在的主题。然而，特定的存在训练和个人反思可以加深治疗师对存在问题的开放性，并扩大对存在过程的洞察力。