Existential Therapy: Finding Meaning in the Midst of Uncertainty
Life can be full of uncertainty, transitions, and moments when we feel disconnected from who we are and what we want. During these times, therapy can offer a space to process, reflect, and reconnect. Existential therapy is an approach that centers around the big questions of life and helping people explore meaning, freedom, responsibility, and what it means to be fully alive.
What Is Existential Therapy?
Existential therapy is a philosophical approach to psychotherapy that focuses on human existence, freedom, and the search for meaning. Rather than seeing psychological symptoms as something that needs to be "fixed," existential therapy views them as signals or indicators that you may be struggling with deeper questions about identity, purpose, or choice.
This type of therapy is rooted in the ideas of existential philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre, Viktor Frankl, and Rollo May. It emphasizes personal responsibility and the idea that, while we cannot control everything in life, we do have the freedom to make choices and create meaning from our experiences.
How Can Existential Therapy Help?
Existential therapy can help individuals:
Explore core values and beliefs: It supports you in uncovering what truly matters to you, beyond societal or family expectations.
Face existential anxiety: Many people feel anxiety when thinking about death, freedom, isolation, or meaninglessness. Existential therapy helps you confront and move through these feelings rather than avoid them.
Embrace freedom and responsibility: By recognizing your freedom to choose, you can take ownership of your life and decisions, leading to greater empowerment.
Cultivate authenticity: It encourages living in alignment with your true self rather than living by default or inauthentic patterns.
Find meaning in suffering: Inspired by Viktor Frankl’s work, existential therapy helps people make sense of painful experiences and use them as opportunities for growth and self-discovery.
Existential therapy seeks to help you understand the "why" behind your feelings and experiences, supporting a deeper transformation and sense of fulfillment.
Understanding Existential Anxiety
One of the core concepts in existential therapy is existential anxiety. Unlike general anxiety, which often centers on specific fears (like public speaking or flying), existential anxiety arises when we confront fundamental questions about life itself.
This type of anxiety can emerge when we face our own mortality, reflect on the meaning (or seeming meaninglessness) of life, or grapple with the vast freedom and responsibility that come with making choices.
What does existential anxiety look like?
A deep sense of restlessness or unease that feels hard to define
Feeling “lost” or disconnected from your identity or life direction
Questioning your purpose, values, or the point of daily routines
Feeling overwhelmed by freedom or the idea that you alone are responsible for shaping your life
Emotional numbness or a sense that life feels flat or empty
Difficulty finding motivation, even when there is no obvious external reason
People experiencing existential anxiety might describe feeling “stuck,” “adrift,” or “in a fog,” and traditional solutions like problem-solving or distraction often don't provide relief.
In existential therapy, this anxiety is not viewed as something to be eliminated but as a natural and even necessary part of being human. By facing it directly, clients can discover what truly matters to them, build resilience, and move toward a more meaningful and authentic life.
Who Can Existential Therapy Help?
Existential therapy can be particularly helpful for individuals who:
Are going through major life transitions (e.g., divorce, career changes, leaving a religious community)
Feel stuck or disconnected from their sense of self
Are struggling with questions of meaning and purpose
Experience existential or spiritual crises
Live with chronic illness
Have anxiety or depression tied to identity, values, or life direction
It can also resonate with those who consider themselves introspective or philosophical and want to engage in deeper self-exploration rather than just focus on symptom management.
Existential therapy invites you to explore the big questions of life in a safe, supportive space. It helps you move toward living more authentically and intentionally, even in the face of uncertainty and challenge. If you are curious about diving deeper into your own meaning and purpose, existential therapy might be a powerful path forward.
