“…it is he who is dead and not I.”
The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy is a powerful exploration of mortality. Through the story of Ivan Ilyich, a successful and respected lawyer, Tolstoy portrays the tragedy of a life lived without acknowledging the certainty of one’s own death. Instead, as articulated in the quote, denial is a staunch ally in the process: others die, not me.
Questions endure about the origin or meaning of dreams, from unconscious, repressed desires and archetypal symbols of the collective unconscious to modern theories about memory consolidation, emotional processing, and problem-solving. Regardless, dreams are one thing most surely: an opportunity. Take it!
Existential-Humanistic therapy draws its way of working with dreams from its humanistic heritage. Notably, it approaches dreamwork with the same emphasis on presence and experience as therapy. Furthermore, it avoids one-sized fits all dream interpretations.
Existential-Humanistic therapy is relational and experiential. Care is a critical therapy component: letting our clients matter to and influence us.
In many cases, caring is pretty straightforward. We love our clients. Unconditional positive regard is easy. The only risk is maybe what we do with that affection. Alternatively, we might genuinely dislike our clients. That’s hard. Can we show care by simply…
Existential-Humanistic therapy is experiential and relational. Transparency stands as a central issue for both.
For the client, openness and honesty are the ground for healing and growth. Closedness and self-deception ensure the status quo. However, when basked in presence, transparency leads to revelation. The process of transparency is therefore worth reinforcing and encouraging with sensitivity.
Existential-Humanistic therapy (E-H) is relational and experiential. Safety, transparency, and collaboration work in concert, defining the therapeutic relationship. Safety includes several different components. It also means different things to different clients, though basics arguably apply universally.
Concerning safety, an emphasis on acceptance arguably differentiates E-H from other therapeutic modalities. Acceptance means first openness and suspension of judgment.
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Existential-Humanistic Institute, Inc. A California Benefit Corp