What is existential therapy?

In the book Tuck Everlasting, Tuck and his family drank from a spring that made them immune to death. Tuck's immortality presented him with a dilemma: if you had the choice, would you live forever? Tuck outlived his friend Winnie, and that was sad for him. He outlived everyone, anandd he grappled with how to make these relationships meaningful while knowing that they would die before he did. Mortality is more than just a concept—it’s a truth that we all face. Death is the great equalizer, and it gives us the gift of choice. We can choose how we want to spend our time here and grapple with the ways we have not chosen our path in the past.

Since humans could first ponder, we've been looking for answers to some of our toughest questions: “why are we here?”, “what happens when we die?” and "how do we live a meaningful life despite knowing that?"

Existential therapy helps you to begin the journey of finding meaning in your own life. Together, we'll ask questions about what your experience is like for you. What thoughts do you have, what does your body feel like, what do you most need when you're in this state? And, more importantly, how can you recover your sense of authentic choice in a world that's hell-bent on molding you to the status quo?

Through engaging in these big inquiries with a trained existential therapist, you'll begin to develop a sense of self-belief, calm, and an inner knowing that reaches beyond any brain-bending explanations. By facing your despair, hopelessness, and fear, you can find the courage to be true to you in your life, thereby alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression. After all, every symptom has a story that’s rooted in existential aloneness.

When traversing through the dark night of the soul, it helps to have a guide. If you’re interested in doing this brave work, reach out to learn more about how existential psychotherapy with me can help you find meaning in your suffering.