Existential Phenomenological Psychotherapy
Existential Phenomenological Psychotherapy (EPP) is a therapy modality that helps people find meaning in their life. It has its roots in existentialist thought and helps people find control in their situation.
Existential phenomenological psychotherapy (EPP) is a talk therapy option for patients seeking help for their mental health problems. EPP is all about our perception of humanity and why it exists. It connects our mental health to our negative thoughts and views about human existence.
Existential phenomenological psychotherapy deals with some pretty heavy concepts, but this guide will help you understand how EPP can help you along your road to well-being.
Breaking it Down
Existential phenomenological psychotherapy (EPP) has three very large, complicated words. Understanding this therapy modality can be made easier by knowing what each part of it is and why they’re important.
Existentialism
Existentialism is a philosophy that explores the nature of existence. As individuals, we all have responsibilities to ourselves in the grand scheme of the universe. This concept was popularized by Jean-Paul Sarte following WWII. Although, the work of Søren Kierkegaard is considered the foundation for this school of thought.
Existentialism is often misunderstood as existential dread. Existential dread or angst may be a felt experience for many, but the philosophy of existentialism doesn’t end with dread. Writers like Dostoevsky wrote about virtues like compassion, humility, and enjoying the small pleasures of life.
Simply put, we are responsible for creating meaning in our own lives. Existentialism also postulates that existence isn’t meaningful, but our actions and choices are.
Phenomenological
Phenomenology is an approach to philosophy developed by Edmund Husserl. It’s a new concept for many people. Phenomenology has two root words—phenomenon and logic. A phenomenon is a fact or situation that has been proven to exist, particularly one whose cause is in question. Logic is reasoning conducted or assessed according to principles of validation.
When we put these two concepts together, we get phenomenology. Essentially, it means using logic to make sense of phenomena such as existence.
In other words, when applied to EPP, the source of the meaning of existence comes from the lived experiences of humans.
Psychotherapy
This concept is much more understandable. Similar to phenomenology, psychotherapy has two root words—psyche and therapy. Psyche refers to the human spirit or mind and therapy is a form of treatment for many ailments.
Psychotherapy means treatment for the mind. The most well-known and commonly used form of psychotherapy is talk therapy. This treatment involves communication between therapist and client to alleviate the client’s symptoms.
Most forms of talk therapy are focused on finding negative or incorrect thoughts about self and the world. The therapist will work with the patient to solve the mental health problems the client is facing.
Focusing on the Present
When we put everything back together we’re left with a therapy that is rooted in the importance of what we do with our lives. If we are free to create our own meaning, what will our lives mean?
The main focus of this modality is responsibility and freedom. Our perceptions and our actions are our responsibility. You’re more in control than you may know.
Existentialism also postulates that existence isn’t meaningful, but our actions and choices are.
Existential therapists believe that anxiety and other mental health disorders manifest when someone’s existence is challenged. For example, a young athlete may find their meaning in life to be their sport of choice. But when that is challenged by not making the team or an injury, anxiety will follow. Even if you don’t have a firm grasp on the “why” of your existence, things like trauma and addiction can challenge it.
This type of therapy tries to relieve those feelings by helping people find their own meaning and learn how to live in the present despite changing circumstances.
The Six Propositions
This modality will often be called existential therapy and it is built on 6 propositions. These 6 propositions help address questions like “Why do I exist?”
- All persons have the capacity for self-awareness.
- As free beings, everyone must accept the responsibility that comes with freedom.
- Each person has a unique identity that can only be known through relationships with others.
- Each person must continually recreate himself. The meaning of life and the meaning of existence is never fixed; rather, it constantly changes.
- Anxiety is part of the human condition.
- Death is a basic human condition that gives significance to life.
These propositions make up the tenets of existential therapy. As patients move through the modality, they will use these as the core beliefs that will guide the rest of the treatment. Everyone has the ability to change, and each person can and should create the meaning of life for themself.
Accepting Responsibility
Everyone has the ability to change, and each person can and should create the meaning of life for themself.
Accepting responsibility is a major tenet of EPP. At the core is the understanding that we are responsible for finding and living out the meaning of our own existence. It’s a therapy that asks us to confront our fears and ask why we are where we are. EPP teaches that only when we’ve answered that question are we able to see past our mental health issues.
EPP understands that our negative feelings and mental health disorders are based on our perceptions of our existence. These negative feelings can come from our perceptions of self and also as sentient beings.
Patients of EPP are intended to reach a place where they’re able to confront their anxiety about their existence and perceptions of reality. From there they can gain insight into the “why”. The “why” refers to the meaning of life. The concept drives our behavior. Once that has been “discovered”, clients can accept responsibility and begin to heal.
How Effective is EPP?
EPP has been helpful for some people. Mainly, it can help those who feel they are in a dark place. EPP helps put responsibilities into perspective. That being said, it’s not generally the correct treatment for someone who is experiencing PTSD.
EPP can alleviate mental health symptoms, but it’s best used in tandem with other modalities. EPP is considered the most effective as an addiction treatment.
People who feel like they don’t have a place in the world will be helped by this modality as it helps people find meaning.
EPP at Sequoia
We want to help people who feel like they don’t have a place in the world develop a healthier perception of the impact they have on the world. When you choose to come to an inpatient facility you’re already taking responsibility for your actions.
EPP is just a small part of our program. Treatment is planned based on individual needs because we take a holistic approach to treatment. We don’t believe recovery has a one-size-fits-all option.
Our inpatient facility is designed to make a difference in people’s lives through individualized mental health care. We treat the root problems as an effort to equip people with the tools to enhance resilience and engage in a meaningful life.
If you are experiencing mental health issues that are stopping you from living the life you want, reach out to us and let us know how we could help.