Reflection Paper on Existential
Therapy
Counseling Theory and Practice
3/8/2013
Jesslyn Guenther
Jesslyn Guenther
Reflection Paper on Existential Theory
Counseling Theory and Practice
3/8/13
Reflection Paper on Existential Therapy
I really like this theory. When doing the pre-chapter self-inventory, I had the most
strongly agreed answers out of all the theories we have studied to date. Like the Adler
Theory, I really relate to and believe in most of this theory.
The part of the theory that I’m not totally convinced of or maybe I just don’t fully
understand yet is the part that we are not the victim of circumstance. I look at it as yes,
we are victims of circumstance, but it’s how we deal with these circumstances that
matters. I can look at many things that happen to me and I can feel sorry for myself, like
I used to do or I can use my circumstances to make me a stronger person.
Sometimes people who are victims of accidents and become paralyzed, or who are
victims of a natural disaster or sexual assault, etc. may never be able to overcome their
circumstances and may be victims forever. Others might take their circumstances and
become stronger because of them, for example; John Walsh, who lost his son Adam to
an abductor, used his circumstance to help others and became host of America’s Most
Wanted.
Jesslyn Guenther
Reflection Paper on Existential Theory
Counseling Theory and Practice
3/8/13
I really believe in having the client reflect on their life so they can recognize a range of
alternatives and work on acting on them to change their life for the better. I will be using
this approach as an AODA counselor.
I have learned about myself while reading about this theory that it’s okay to have a
certain degree of feeling isolated, alienated, feeling meaningless, having anxiety and to
think about death. This is a natural part of life and I was always worried when I felt these
things, but now I will ask myself why I am feeling this way and what can I do to change
these feelings. I will take my hard times and make something positive out of them. For
example; I took the hurt and pain that I felt from having an alcoholic father and husband
and decided to go to school to become an AODA counselor to better understand why
they are the way they are and maybe be able to help them and others to overcome their
disease. It took me a long time to figure out that this is what I needed to do but it’s a
good example of how our existence is never fixed.
What I love about this theory, is that we are all very unique, rare and one of a kind. We
will be the only us that will ever live, so it is up to us to make a difference in our lives
and make our lives worthwhile. I will share this theory with my clients, friends, children
and peers to let them know that we are in charge of our own lives. Others can make
suggestions but we ultimately must make our own decisions.
We should use our past experiences to reshape our lives, no matter what point we are
at in our life because our existence is never fixed once and for all and we can always
continue to recreate ourselves.