Existential Therapy

We are all capable humans with some amount of self-determination in our lives. My belief is that we each create meaning in different ways. Part of my goal is to explore with you how you find meaning in your life and what your narratives about yourself and others are to see where supportive shifts can happen.

Do you ever feel unsure of your purpose, or that you struggle with being true to yourself and the life you want to live? Existential psychotherapy explores the fundamental questions of human existence, such as the meaning of life, freedom, responsibility, and the mysteries of the unknown. By embracing these existential concerns together, this approach helps you feel empowered to confront your own unique existence, find purpose, and live more authentically.

An existential approach to therapy emphasizes the importance of the meaning that each person makes in life and that the path that one takes can only be understood in the context of their unique life experience. This means that the questions, "Who am I?" and "What is the meaning of life" is a personal journey that, ultimately, only the individual can discover for themselves.

I have been interested in the meaning of life since I first read Man's Search For Meaning 30 years ago. As a cancer patient, I have had a lot of time to consider my own purpose, and I think most people at some point (or many points) in their lives have moments where they contemplate what this all means. I love helping my clients explore the existential concerns of death, freedom, isolation, and meaning.

Having a background in philosophy in my undergrad, existentialism was an immediate interest of mine. As I moved through grad school, every free moment was filled with the works of Irvin Yalom and Viktor Frankl. I will sit with you and we together can explore the 4 tenants of existentialism and how the way you interact with them may be affecting your day-to-day life and relationships with others and yourself.

Considering the deeper issues of what it means to be human and exist at this time and in this place. Trying to figure out what the heck it's all about anyway. What do I believe? What do I think is BS? What happens when I die? What is death? Why am I here? What is the point of life? Will I make a difference? What matters most?

Especially in this political and social climate, anxiety, dread, and depression can be attributed to the human condition; that is, being a human in this deeply imperfect world is bound to bring with it anxieties, worries, and a sense of loneliness sometimes. Viewing it as a normal, although unpleasant, part of life can help to shift the narrative from pathology, to a temporary feeling that we can use to explore these emotions and how they impact us globally.

Our therapists are experienced in existential therapy, humanistic therapy and other holistic therapies incorporating several modalities into their individual practices.

I have a deep appreciation for the place of meaning in human life.

Underneath it all I see myself as a human- one who struggles and has struggled with the same fears that all humans have struggled with- mortality, isolation, our freedom to make choices, and our ultimate meaninglessness in a universe that is indifferent. I believe then that it is critical as a therapist to support people in finding their own meaning and purpose; and that they can trust themselves to make that decision.

I have an existential focus in my practice that presumes that all individuals seek meaning, purpose, and self-actualization. I believe that anxiety and depression are symptoms that derive from a lack of meaning and purpose. I like to focus on issues fundamental to the core human condition such as anxiety, meaning making, purpose, freedom, responsibility, self-actualization, self-worth, guilt and acceptance.

I offer existential psychotherapy. Understanding your past and how it effects your present allows you to slowly bring change to your current world.

Irvin Yalom describes four major ultimate concerns: death, meaninglessness, isolation, and freedom. They are the “givens of existence,” or an “inescapable part” of being human. Every person must come to terms with these concerns through active choices to realize their individual potential. My approach is based on these existential concerns, and informed by philospohers Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, and psychologists Frankly, van Deurzen and Rollo May.

It is not easy to discuss meaning making and the concepts of life and death with our social circle or friend group. I am here to provide the space for you to evaluate the human condition, your place within it and what it all means to you.

My experience and studies in literature paved the way for my current philosophical and therapeutic approach in counseling. It was the influence of French authors like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus that left a huge mark on my professional development. I would later consolidate their teachings with experts in Psychology, such as Viktor Frankl and his emphasis on the "will to meaning." How we make meaning out of the suffering we endure can be one of the most powerful questions in counseling.

This is a framework I utilize to help explore experiences and increase meaning making (i.e., logotherapy).

My approach involves engaging with clients in an authentic and nonjudgmental manner, creating a space where existential concerns like mortality, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness can be openly discussed. Through exploring what it means to be human, I guide clients in gaining a heightened sense of self-awareness and empowering them to make choices aligned with their authentic values, ultimately fostering a more meaningful and fulfilling life.