Psychotherapy is a type of treatment applied in treating patients with psychological issues. It helps eliminate or control distressing symptoms to help the individual function better and improve their well-being and healing process (Locher et al., 2019). Psychotherapy is used to address issues such as coping difficulties, the impact of trauma, medical illnesses, loss of loved ones, and mental disorders. This paper seeks to compare humanistic-existential therapy with cognitive-behavioral theory and explore why humanistic-existential psychotherapy was utilized in a video.
Humanistic-Existential therapy is a type of psychotherapy approach that focuses on the human condition. It encourages human capacities and aspirations while at the same time recognizing human limitations (Krug, 2019). Besides, it emphasizes acceptance and growth with an assumption that people have the capacity for self-awareness and choice. Humanistic-Existential psychotherapy is anchored upon a basic belief that all individuals undergo intrapsychic conflict from their interaction with particular conditions inherent in human existence (Krug, 2019). The social outcomes of existential-humanistic therapy mostly led to improved self-esteem of an individual. Furthermore, therapists using existential-humanistic therapy help clients to thoughtfully explore their choices and actions during a crisis (Krug, 2019). Existential–humanistic therapy is often employed in clients with trauma, relationship difficulties, psychosis, depression, and those coping with chronic conditions.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy approach that delves into the human mind. It makes individuals aware of their thoughts and how they impact behavior (Fordham et al., 2018). It aims to change thinking patterns and behavior that initiate life challenges and, as a result, change how individuals feel. CBT is founded on several key principles, including psychological problems partly due to faulty or unhelpful thinking patterns. Psychological problems are caused by learned patterns of unhelpful behavior (Fordham et al., 2018). Besides, CBT has an assumption that individuals suffering from psychological distress can learn better ways of coping with them. This alleviates the distress and helps individuals to become more successful in their lives (Fordham et al., 2018). CBT has proven effective in managing anxiety disorders, depression, alcohol and drug use problems, eating disorders, marital problems, and severe mental illness.
Differences between Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy and CBT
Humanistic-existential and CBT vary in their concepts and the therapy approach they use. Humanistic-existential therapy focuses on the overlap to the future and expectations from the future. It seeks to process the expectations in the way they relate to an individual’s need to fulfill the meaning of their life (Miyassarova, 2020). On the other hand, CBT stresses an individual’s actual thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and stresses how they were acquired and maintained (Fordham et al., 2018). Humanistic-existential therapy focuses on the notion of conscious choice and includes the concepts of human consciousness, freedom, intentionality, authenticity, responsibility, and engagement (Miyassarova, 2020). CBT does not stress authenticity, responsibility, and engagement.
Humanistic-existential therapy is optimistic and employs a positive approach that focuses on an individual’s potential to become better. On the other hand, CBT entails re-training an individual’s thoughts and modifying their behaviors. It only focuses on changing their thoughts and behaviors rather than making one a better person (Fordham et al., 2018). The differences between humanistic-existential and CBT might impact my PMHNP practice since I have to evaluate a client’s needs and identify the best approach to use based on their condition. For instance, if I want to become more aware of himself and the world around him, I will use humanistic-existential therapy. However, if I want the client to modify their thinking patents in order to foster positive behavior, I will employ CBT (Fordham et al., 2018). Besides, clients who seek to understand the meaning, purpose, values, and beliefs of their lives are best suited by humanistic-existential therapy.
Why Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy Was Utilized with the Client
The client in the video ‘Joe’ presented to the therapist with reports of not feeling very alive. The client had attended therapy two years ago and got in touch with some anger issues. Currently, he reports having a difficult time understanding where he is and feels constricted. Humanistic-existential was used in this client to help him develop the capacity for self-awareness and choice (Miyassarova, 2020). Since he does not understand where he is in life, the therapy would help create a personal identity in the client and enable him to be fully present for quality relationships (Miyassarova, 2020). Humanistic-existential therapy was the treatment of choice since it would help Joe search for the meaning, purpose, values, and beliefs of life to have a more meaningful existence.
Conclusion
Humanistic-Existential therapy focuses on the human condition as a whole. It helps individuals develop the capacity for self-awareness and personal identity. It enables clients to identify their morals and other failures. On the other hand, CBT focuses on the human mind. It helps individuals to be aware of their thoughts and how they impact behavior. It is based on the assumption that unhealthy thinking patterns lead to psychological problems.
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
Krug, O. T. (2019). Existential‐Humanistic and Existential‐Integrative Therapy: Method and Practice. The Wiley world handbook of existential therapy, 257-266. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119167198.ch15
Locher, C., Meier, S., & Gaab, J. (2019). Psychotherapy: A World of Meanings. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 460. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00460
Miyassarova, L. R. (2020). Dynamics of Existential Personality Fulfillment in the Course of Psychotherapy. Behavioral Sciences, 10(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs10010021
Understanding the strengths of each type of therapy and which type of therapy is most appropriate for each patient is an essential skill of the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. In this Assignment, you will compare humanistic-existential therapy to another psychotherapeutic approach. You will identify the strengths and challenges of each approach and describe expected potential outcomes.
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 psychotherapy. The approach you choose may be one you previously explored in the course or one you are familiar with and especially interested in.
The Assignment
In a 2- to 3-page paper, address the following:
- 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.
Note: The School of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available at http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates ). All papers submitted must use this formatting.
By Day 7
Submit your Assignment.
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- Click the Week 7 Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
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- Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK7Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
- If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
- Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.
Name: NRNP_6645_Week7_Assignment_Rubric
Excellent 90%–100% | Good 80%–89% | Fair 70%–79% | Poor 0%–69% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Develop a 2- to 3-page paper comparing humanistic-existential therapy to another psychotherapeutic approach of your choice. Be sure to address the following: · Briefly describe humanistic-existential psychotherapy and the second approach you selected. | Points Range: 23 (23%) – 25 (25%) The response includes an accurate and concise description of humanistic-existential psychotherapy and your selected approach. | Points Range: 20 (20%) – 22 (22%) The response includes a description of humanistic-existential psychotherapy and your selected approach. | Points Range: 18 (18%) – 19 (19%) The response includes a somewhat vague or inaccurate description of humanistic-existential psychotherapy and your selected approach. | Points Range: 0 (0%) – 17 (17%) The response includes a vague and inaccurate description of humanistic-existential psychotherapy and your selected approach, or is missing. | |
| · Explain at least three differences between humanistic-existential psychotherapy and the approach you selected. · Include how these differences might impact your practice as a PMHNP. | Points Range: 23 (23%) – 25 (25%) The response includes an accurate and clear explanation of three differences between humanistic-existential psychotherapy and your selected approach. The response includes a thoughtful and throrough explanation of how the differences between humanistic-existential psychotherapy and your selected approach might impact your practice as a PMHNP. | Points Range: 20 (20%) – 22 (22%) The response includes an accurate explanation of three differences between humanistic-existential psychotherapy and your selected approach. The response includes an explanation of how the differences between humanistic-existential psychotherapy and your selected approach might impact your practice as a PMHNP. | Points Range: 18 (18%) – 19 (19%) The response includes a somehwat vague or inaccurate explanation of three differences between humanistic-existential psychotherapy and your selected approach. The response includes a somewhat vague or inaccurate explanation of how the differences between humanistic-existential psychotherapy and your selected approach might impact your practice as a PMHNP. | Points Range: 0 (0%) – 17 (17%) The response includes a vague and inaccurate explanation of three differences between humanistic-existential psychotherapy and your selected approach, or is missing. The response includes a vague and inaccurate explanation of how the differences between humanistic-existential psychotherapy and your selected approach might impact your practice as a PMHNP, or is missing. | |
| · Explain why humanistic-existential psychotherapy was utilized with the client 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 client. · Support your response with at least three peer-reviewed, evidence-based sources from the literature. PDFs are attached. | Points Range: 32 (32%) – 35 (35%) The response includes a thorough and accurate explanation of why humanistic-existential psychotherapy was utilized with the client and why it was the treatment of choice. The response includes a thorough and accurate description of the expected potential outcome had the second approach been used with the client. The response is supported by at least three peer-reviewed, evidence-based sources from the literature that provide strong support for the rationale provided. PDFs are attached. | Points Range: 28 (28%) – 31 (31%) The response includes an accurate explanation of why humanistic-existential psychotherapy was utilized with the client and why it was the treatment of choice. The response includes a description of the expected potential outcome had the second approach been used with the client. The response is supported by three peer-reviewed, evidence-based sources from the literature that provide appropriate support for the rationale provided. PDFs are attached. | Points Range: 24 (24%) – 27 (27%) The response includes a somewhat vague or incomplete explanation of why humanistic-existential psychotherapy was utilized with the client and why it was the treatment of choice. The response includes a somewhat vague or incomplete description of the expected potential outcome had the second approach been used with the client. The response is supported by two or three peer-reviewed, evidence-based sources from the literature. Resources selected may provide only weak support for the rationale provided. PDFs may not be attached. | Points Range: 0 (0%) – 23 (23%) The response includes a vague and inaccurate explanation of why humanistic-existential psychotherapy was utilized with the client and why it was the treatment of choice, or is missing. The response includes a vauge and incomplete description of the expected potential outcome had the second approach been used with the client, or is missing. The response is supported by vague or inaccurate evidence from the literature, or is missing. | |
| Written Expression and Formatting – Paragraph Development and Organization: Paragraphs make clear points that support well-developed ideas, flow logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas. Sentences are carefully focused—neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction is provided which delineates all required criteria. | Points Range: 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion are provided that delineates all required criteria. | Points Range: 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 80% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment are stated, yet are brief and not descriptive. | Points Range: 3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%) Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 60%–79% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment are vague or off topic. | Points Range: 0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity < 60% of the time. No purpose statement, introduction, or conclusion were provided. | |
| Written Expression and Formatting – English writing standards: Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation | Points Range: 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors. | Points Range: 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 80% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment are stated, yet are brief and not descriptive. | Points Range: 3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%) Contains 3 or 4 grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. | Points Range: 0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Contains many (≥ 5) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding. | |
| Written Expression and Formatting – The paper follows correct APA format for title page, headings, font, spacing, margins, indentations, page numbers, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list. | Points Range: 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Uses correct APA format with no errors. | Points Range: 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Contains 1 or 2 APA format errors. | Points Range: 3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%) Contains 3 or 4 APA format errors. | Points Range: 0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Contains many (≥ 5) APA format errors. | |
| Total Points: 100 | |||||
Name: NRNP_6645_Week7_Assignment_Rubric
