Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Existential Psychotherapy: The Genetic-Phenomenological Approach

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Existential Psychotherapy

Abstract

This chapter aims to explain how the genetic-phenomenological approach to existential psychotherapy works and how it is applied in clinical practice. So one of its main aims is to present the relational stances and the therapeutic techniques used in this approach. The chapter sets out to (a) summarize the theoretical underpinnings of existential psychotherapy and the principles supported by scientific evidence and how both can be intertwined; (b) define the goals and aims of existential psychotherapy; (c) outline the relational stances and the therapeutic techniques in this approach; (d) present research that supports interventions based on the genetic-phenomenological approach; (e) explain the process of case conceptualization and how to understand the process of change from an existential perspective.

This chapter has some parts based on a original paper: Existential Psychotherapy. The Genetic-Phenomenological Approach: Beyond a Dichotomy Between Relating and Skills. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy. 45:69–77.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alegria, S., Carvalho, I., Sousa, D., Correia, E. A., Fonseca, J., Pires, A. S., & Fernandes, S. (2016). Process and outcome research in existential psychotherapy. Existential Analysis, 27(1), 78–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, T., Olges, B. M., Patterson, C. L., Lambert, M. J., & Vermeersch, D. A. (2009). Therapist effects: Facilitative interpersonal skills as a predictor of therapist success. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65(7), 755–768.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, T., Crowley, M. E. J., Himawan, L., Holmberg, J. K., & Uhlin, B. D. (2016). Therapist facilitative interpersonal skills and training status: A randomized clinical trial on alliance and outcome. Psychotherapy Research, 26(5), 511–529.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beutler, L. E., Someah, K., Kimpara, S., & Miller, K. (2016). Selecting the most appropriate treatment for each patient. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 16, 99–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohart, A. C., & Tallman, K. (2010). Clients: The neglected common factor in psychotherapy. In B. L. Duncan, S. D. Miller, B. E. Wampold, & M. A. Hubble (Eds.), The heart and soul of change: Delivering what works in therapy (2nd ed., pp. 83–111). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Buber, M. (1970). I and Thou. New York: A Touchstone Book.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castonguay, L. G., Boswell, J. F., Zack, S. E., Baker, A., Boutselis, M. A., Chiswick, N. R., … Holtforth, M. G. (2010a). Helpful and hindering events in psychotherapy: A pratice research network study. Psychotherapy Theory, Research, Practice, 47(3), 327–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castonguay, L. G., Boswell, J. F., Constantino, M. J., Goldfried, M. R., & Hill, C. E. (2010b). Training implications of harmful effects of psychological treatments. American Psychologist, 65(1), 34–49.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chow, D., Miller, S. D., Seidel, J. A., Kane, R. T., Thornton, J. A., & Andrews, W. (2015). The role of deliberate practice in the development of highly effective psychotherapists. Psychotherapy, 52(3), 337–345.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Constantino, M. J., Arnkoff, D. B., Glass, C. R., Ametrano, R. M., & Smith, J. Z. (2011). Expectations. Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session, 67(2), 184–192.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Constantino, M. J., Ametrano, R. M., & Greenberg, R. P. (2012). Clinician interventions and participant characteristics that foster adaptive patient expectations for psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic change. Psychotherapy 49(4), 557–569.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, M. (2003). Existencial therapies. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, M. (2007). Humanizing psychotherapy. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 37(1), 11–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, M. (2008). Essential research findings in counselling and psychotherapy: The facts are friendly. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Correia, E. A., Sartóris, V., Fernandes, T., Cooper, M., Berdondini, L., Sousa, D., Pires, B., Fonseca, J. (2016). The practices of existential psychotherapists: Development and application of an observational grid. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling. Retrieved from doi: 10.1080/03069885.2016.1254723.

  • Ekroll, V. B. S., & Rønnestad, M. H. (2016). Processes and changes experienced by clients during and after naturalistic good-outcome therapies conducted by experienced psychotherapists. Psychotherapy Research. Retrieved from doi:10.1080/10503307.2015.1119326.

  • Elliott, R., Bohart, A. C., Watson, J. C., & Greenberg, L. S. (2011). Empathy. Psychotherapy, 48, 43–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gadamer, H.G. (2003). Truth and Method. New York: Seabury Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gelso, C. J. (2014). A tripartite model of the therapeutic relationship: Theory, research, and practice. Psychotherapy Research, 24(2), 117–131.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, S. B., Hoyt, W. T., Nissen-lie, H. A., Nielsen, S. L., & Wampold, B. E. (2016). Unpacking the therapist effect: Impact of treatment length differs for high- and low-performing therapists. Psychotherapy Research. Retrieved from doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2016.1216625.

  • Heidegger, M. (1962). Being and time. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, C. (1995). Therapist techniques, client involvement, and the therapeutic relationship: Inextricably intertwined in the therapy process. Psychotherapy: Theory Research, Practice, Training, 42, 431–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, L., Vallejos, L., Cleare-Hoffman, H., & Rubin, S. (2015). Emotion, relationship, and meaning as core existential practice: Evidence-based foundations. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 45(1), 11–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Husserl, E. (1977). Phenomenological psychology. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Husserl, E. (1989). Ideas pertaining to a pure phenomenology and to a phenomenological philosophy: Second book. Dordrecht: Kluwer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Husserl, E. (1994). Lições para uma fenomenologia da consciência interna do tempo. Lisboa: Imprensa Nacional—Casa da Moeda.

    Google Scholar 

  • Husserl, E. (2001). Analyses concerning passive and active synthesis. Lectures on transcendental logic. Dordrecht: Kluwer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kierkegaard, S. (1980). The concept of anxiety. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, M. J. (2013). Bergin and Garfield’s handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, M. J. (2015). Progress feedback and the OQ-System: The past and the future. Psychotherapy, 52(4), 381–390.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, M. J., & Cattani, K. (2012). Practice-friendly research review: Collaboration in routine care. Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session, 68(2), 209–220.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, M. J., & Shimokawa, K. (2011). Collecting client feedback. Psychotherapy, 48(1), 72–79.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Levitt, H. M., Pomerville, A., & Surace, F. I. (2016). A qualitative meta-analysis examining clients’ experiences of psychotherapy: A new agenda. Psychological Bulletin, 142(8), 801–830.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • May, R., Angel, E., & Ellenberger, F. H. (2004). Existence. New York: Aronson.

    Google Scholar 

  • McAleavey, A. A., & Castonguay, L. G. (2013). Insight as a common and specific impact of psychotherapy: Therapist-reported exploratory, directive, and common factor interventions. Psychotherapy, 51, 283–294.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Merleau-Ponty, M. (2002). Phenomenology of perception. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norcross, J. (2016). The face of 2025. The future of psychotherapy. In Personal Communication presented at the International Conference of Psychotherapy—The Challenges of the Future, of the ISPA—University Institute, Lisbon, Portugal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norcross, J. C., & Lambert, M. (2011). Introduction. Evidence-based therapy relationships. In.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norcross, J. C., & Wampold, B. E. (2011). What works for whom: Tailoring psychotherapy to the person. Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session, 67(2), 127–132.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Norcross, J. C., Krebs, P. M., & Prochaska, J. O. (2011). Stages of change. Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session, 67(2), 143–154.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira, A., Sousa, D., & Pires, A. (2012). Significant events on existential psychotherapy: The client’s perspective. Existential Analysis, 23(2), 134–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owen, J., & Hilsenroth, M. J. (2014). Treatment adherence: The importance of therapist flexibility in relation to therapy outcomes. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 61(2), 280–288.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rennie, D. (2010). Humanistic psychology at York University: Retrospective: Focus on clients’ experiencing in psychotherapy: Emphasis of radical reflexivity. The Humanistic Psychologist, 38, 40–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rønnestad, M. H. (2016). Is expertise in psychotherapy a useful construct? Psychotherapy Bulletin, 51(1), 11–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Safran, J. D., Muran, J. C., Demaria, A., Boutwell, C., Eubanks-Carter, C., & Winston, A. (2014). Investigating the impact of alliance-focused training on interpersonal process and therapists’ capacity for experiential reflection. Psychotherapy Research, 24(3), 269–285.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sartre, J. P. (1994). A Consciência de si e Conhecimento de si. Lisboa: Edições Colibri.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, K. (2015). Presence: The core contextual factor of effective psychotherapy. Existential Analysis, 2(2), 304–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, K. J., & May, R. (1995). The psychology of existence. An integrative, clinical perpsective. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, D. (2004). A short note underlying reflection on psychotherapy research. Existential Analysis, 15(2), 194–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, D. (2015). Existential psychotherapy. The genetic-phenomenological approach: Beyond a dichotomy between relating and skills. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 45, 69–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, D. & Vaz, A. (in press). A descriptive phenomenological exploration of significant events in existential therapy. Journal of Humanistic Psychology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, D., Tavares, A., & Pestana, A. (in press). Eventos significativos em psicoterapia existencial. In A. M. Feijoo & M. B. Lessa (Eds.). Fenomenologia e práticas clínicas II. Rio Janeiro: IFEN.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spinelli, E. (2007). Practising existential psychotherapy. The relational world. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spinelli, E. (2014). An existential challenge to some dominant perspectives in the practice of contemporary counselling psychology. Counselling Psychology Review, 29(2), 7–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stiles, W. B. (2009). Responsiveness as an obstacle for psychotherapy outcome research: It’s worse than you think. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 16, 86–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stiles, W. B. (2013). The variables problem and progress in psychotherapy research. Psychotherapy, 50(1), 33–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tryon, G. S., & Winograd, G. (2011). Goal consensus and collaboration. Psychotherapy, 48(1), 50–57.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Deurzen, E. (1995). Existential therapy. London: Society for Existential Analysis.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Deurzen, E., & Adams, M. (2011). Skills in existential counselling & psychotherapy. London: Sage.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • van Kaam, A. (1958). Existential foundations of psychology. Pittsburgh, PA: Dimension Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, R. A., & McElwain, B. (2001). Existential psychotherapies. In D. J. Cain & J. Seeman (Eds.), Humanistic psychotherapies: Handbook of research and practice (pp. 253–278). Washington: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wampold, B. E. (2011). Qualities and actions of effective therapists. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/education/ce/effective-therapists.pdf.

  • Wampold, B. E. (2015a). Humanism as a common factor in psychotherapy. The handbook of humanistic psychology: Theory, research, and practice, (2nd ed., pp. 400–408) (e-book). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wampold, B. E. (2015b). How important are the common factors in psychotherapy? An update. World Psychiatry, 14, 270–277.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wampold, B. E., & Imel, Z. E. (2015). The great psychotherapy debate: The evidence for what makes psychotherapy work (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wampold, B. E., Imel, Z. E., Laska, K. M., Benish, S. Miller, S. D., Flückiger, C., … Budge, S. (2010). Determining what works in the treatment of PTSD. Clinical Psychology Review, 30, 923–933.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wampold, B. E., Frost, N. D., & Yulish, N. E. (2016). Placebo effects in psychotherapy: A flawed concept and a contorted history. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 3(2), 108–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, V. C., Cooper, M., McArthur, K., & McLeod, J. (2012). Helpful therapeutic processes: Client activities, therapist activities and helpful effects. European Journal of Psychotherapy and Counselling, 14(1), 77–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yalom, I. (1980). Existential psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zahavi, D. (1999). Self-awareness and alterity. A phenomenological investigation. Evanston: Northwestern University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zahavi, D. (2004). Alterity in self. In S. Gallagher, S. Watson, Ph. Brun, & Ph. Romanski (Eds.), Ipseity and alterity. Interdisciplinary approaches to intersubjectivity. Rouen: Presses Universitaires de Rouen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zilcha-Mano, S., Eubanks-Carter, F., Muran, J. C., Hungr, C., Safran, J. D., & Winston, A. (2016). The relationship between alliance and outcome: Analysis of a two-person perspective on alliance and session outcome. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 84(6), 484–496.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Portuguese Society of Existential Psychotherapy, ISPA—University Institute, Lisbon, Portugal

    Daniel Sousa

Authors
  1. Daniel Sousa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel Sousa .

Copyright information

© 2017 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sousa, D. (2017). Existential Psychotherapy: The Genetic-Phenomenological Approach. In: Existential Psychotherapy. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95217-5_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation