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These two therapies can be integrated by helping client to take ownership of present actions by striving to live authentically and make wise choices, yet also allowing for a look backward over client's life, to help client discover how past experiences, within social context, may have impacted present choices. Integrating the two would create a nice combination of authentic living, the ability to remake the self with each new moment, while also being able to trace the roots, to understand oneself and the emotional issues of the past, as client moves forward... Additional knowledge of self, story and life may enlighten and encourage client, so that present-authentic living is enhanced by a more comprehensive self-understanding.

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Existential therapy helps client increase self-awareness for the present moment, without considering what may have happened in the past. The past cannot be blamed for present actions, so the past is rarely considered. The focus is to live authentically in the present, with a new opportunity each moment. Narrative therapy helps client to do the same, but through examining the stories of the past, to deconstruct what is internalized/expected by others, and examine old/tell new stories in light of reclaimed personal values. Also, existential therapy encourages almost total ownership of the problem, whereas narrative therapy separates the client from the problem, and considers the problem to stem from the difference between true self and what is expected/internalized.

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Both theories seek to help the client increase self-awareness as key to change.  With growing self-awareness, anxiety is reduced, self-confidence increases, personal value system is clarified, and empowered clients are able to make better choices; this effects the change they desire in life. Both theories dictate role of therapist as respectful, encouraging, compassionate and empathetic.

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"...Our stories of who we have been and who we can be would not exist outside our relationships with other people... We are shaped by their responses and expectations... Our notions of how we can act... are influenced by memories of how people have responded... and by our understandings of what others expect us to do. We hear, remember, and learn the stories of who we have been and who we are expected to be as those stories are recounted in our relationships with others" (Combs, et al., 2016).

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                                                                               References

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                                                                               References

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Corey, G.  (2009).  Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy.  Boston, MA:  Cengage   Learning.

Corey, G.  (2015).  Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy.  Boston, MA:  Cengage   Learning.

Combs, G., Freedman, J.  (2016).  Narrative therapy's relational understanding of identity.  Family Process, 55, (2), 211-224

Ziskin, L. (Producer), & Oz, F. (Director).  (1991).  What about Bob? [Motion Picture].  United States:  Touchstone Pictures.

Chandler, O.  (2017, February).  Good Reads.  Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/6172.S_ren_Kierkegaard

Chandler, O.  (2017, February).  Good Reads.  Retrieved from   https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/1938.Friedrich_Nietzsche?page=4

Chandler, O.  (2017, February).  Good Reads.  Retrieved from
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1466.Jean_Paul_Sartre

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This therapy seeks to help clients deconstruct the damaging effects, and resultant problems/behaviors, of past stories that were told using internalized language from expectations of other humans. As this deconstruction happens, Incorporating certain aspects of what actually does tie us together as humans may be helpful to the client, for the sake of balance. As therapist and client look back upon the client's life, examine present problems, and begin to deconstruct, discussing "the givens" of anxiety could shed light on client's old behaviors, and the discouragements and fears, inherent to humans, that may have existed, which also likely contributed to the problem.

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Therapist views person and problem as separate. Therapist does not think in terms of labeling client with diagnosis, but focusing on the problem that results from the dissonance between what is expected of client & who client truly is. Therapist may see improvement once client begins to discover things about self, tell old stories, & create new ones. Narrative therapy helps client "deconstruct the curve" normally used to gauge mental health & behavior; this lessens the chance that client will be viewed solely on this continuum. Potential and empowerment are possible, and can bring solutions; to have problems does not necessarily signify illness.

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Co-founders of Narrative Therapy, White and Epston, believed the narratives of cultural norms become internalized and overpower the individual's own language and story, limiting potential.

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Kierkegaard (1813-1855):   Theologian, said anxiety is essential and pushes us to make decisions and become human
Sartre (1905-1980): Philosopher & novelist, said it's "bad faith" to blame the past for present actions, existence is ongoing, never finished
Nietzsche (1844-1900):  Philosopher, said existence is more about "will" than rationality or intellect, and we must exercise our will instead of adopting a herd like mentality as an excuse; we can either be mediocre, or creative, original beings

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The goal is to listen to client's past, help them discover ways to tell the types of future stories they wish. This is also done in effort to understand existing issues... Time orientation is past, present and future.

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Based on premise of theory, client's reality exists within the life-context, is situation-dependent, and is never "abnormal" or "wrong." Meaning viewed largely in light of cultural context/language may conflict with a client's values, and must be deconstructed, justifying the client's right to make sense of old stories, as truth, and right to tell new ones, based on personal value system, instead of "what is expected." Societal definitions of truth need to be deconstructed, since everyone has a different story to tell, in the context of unique circumstances... There is no one acceptable way to live.  Each person's value system, & story, matter. With freedom to tell the stories, and with deconstruction of "norms," the client no longer feels "wrong."  Client is able to make sense of life by telling old stories, examining them for meaning, and creating new ones according to personal values. This sheds light on client's past, validates client's present, clarifies client's issues, and is the place where client begins to understand self, and where change can begin.

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The stories are allowed to spin, with counselor questions as prompts while the client speaks; the point is discovering the client's own truth, and not a truth their life contexts dictate they should adopt (narrative therapy frees them from this internalization). As client's truth is discovered, meaning emerges, which aids client in discovery and acceptance of identity, and sheds historical light on client's present issues, with a view to writing new stories, and a view to change. Example of therapeutic process: Together, name the problem; personify it as having its own motive, discuss how this problem has hurt the client, ask client to search it for meaning, discuss moments when client overcame, and use these moments to encourage client to do much more of the same (this is where the re-writing begins)... Invite client to picture the future with the good; eventual goal of living their new story outside of therapy, within original context, but no longer according to it.

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Therapeutic objectives involve the telling and understanding of the client's stories, & deconstructing societal-imposed "truths," in order to allow the client space and room to accept his/her own reality as truth, effecting empowerment, and making possible the change the client wishes to see. Ultimately, new stories will be able to be told, as clients eventually discover their values and write their stories accordingly.  Therapist helps client to deconstruct these existing ideas which contribute to client's problems through discouragement, and negative view of self. Clients reclaim the right to be the unique persons they are.

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The therapist is not the expert; the client is the knowledgeable person in the life stories. Therapist assumes a collaborative position.  Therapist is less authority and more partner;  taking a "not-knowing" position of interest and discovery, entering the client's world, through stories, to understand. Therapist helps client change beliefs that cause pain, & make room for opportunity and meaning instead. Therapist asks questions to help client create the story through reflection on strength & uniqueness. Deconstruction of old/imposed narrative begins as therapist listens, asks questions, and starts to point out separation of person from problem.

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Post-Modernists/social constructionists believe that realities exist within their context, and cannot be considered outside of it; that it's unfair when the "language" of one's stories is considered to deviate from the "language" of the established "objective norm." This definition of truth is born from societal interactions/cultural context, which is problematic when it deems the client's own story or "language" to be wrong.

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Existential counselors are not concerned with helping clients explore the past as contributor to the present; they favor working with the present moment, and focus on what the client can do now, to change life, since the past cannot be blamed for present actions. While this makes sense, client's understanding of his/her life story, past struggles, relationships, and resultant emotional effects could be a valuable component in healing emotions, then changing thoughts & behaviors.

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There is no established set of techniques, as this therapy is more a philosophy or way of thinking about life. Counselors borrow from other theories when choosing techniques to utilize (i.e., the "homework assignments " of CBT).

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Therapist strives to understand life experience of clients, to assist clients in finding the answers that lie within themselves.  Therapist may challenge clients as to how they contributed to their situation, if ownership is lacking. Therapist seeks to help clients increase self-awareness, so problems don't seem vague, & options seem plentiful. Therapist "holds up a mirror" so clients can self-examine, to make changes and lessen problems.

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Increasing self-awareness is ultimate aim. Help clients recognize inauthentic living, and realize the full potential of the life they could have with better choices. Therapy helps clients open their eyes to personal responsibility, so life can improve. Therapy helps clients healthily manage the anxiety of "the givens" -- mismanagement of "the givens" can contribute to poor choices.

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We may be responsible for much of what is wrong; we may not be pathological as much as we are self-limited by inauthentic living, making choices that  hurt us, deceiving ourselves about source of problems. Even with things we do not directly cause, we can solve some of the problem by controlling our reactions... A person's actions/reactions are examined, as contributors to current problems; to have problems does not necessarily signify illness.

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Therapy is present-focused, as clients cannot use the past to excuse poor choices in the present; all we can control is this moment; clients are encouraged to re-create self, and view every moment as a new opportunity to do so. Also, therapy is future oriented; the choices we make will produce either consequences to own, or benefits to enjoy.

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1. Capacity for Self-Awareness:
*Increased awareness is the opposite of living in ignorance
*Appreciate life and living
*Live in the present moment
*Feel worthy despite our imperfections
*Awareness > freedom > responsibility...
2. Freedom/Responsibility:
*By choosing our actions, we choose our own path
*Living authentically = Accepting responsibility.
*Despite the past, we can make good choices now
*We can improve our reactions to events beyond our control
*Existential guilt: We don't become what we could become
*Existential guilt can be a powerful motivator for change
3. Striving for Identity & Relationship to Others:
*Courage to Be = Be yourself, not what others have decided
*Aloneness = Primary relationship, find meaning within self
*Relatedness = Secondary life-affirming relationships
*Identity = Experience of being , rather than doing
4. Search for Meaning:
*Discard old/imposed values, and discover your own
*Meaning is not sought & found, but created as we live
*Meaning can be created even in suffering
5. Anxiety as a Life Condition:
*All humans deal with "the givens," we are not alone
*Normal anxiety: Reaction to the "givens," produces change
*Neurotic anxiety: Overreaction to the givens; paralyzes
6. Awareness of Death & Non-Being:
*Fear of death remains haunting unless/until it is addressed
*Awareness of death lends motivation and meaning to life
*Acceptance of death brings desire to live well

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Pillow talk with Sigmund and Bob. From What About Bob?

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Every day, we are free to choose the life we want, in the space between 'past' & 'now.'

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We're driven by a "will to power" - we have the power to take ownership, & achieve.

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POSTMODERNISM / NARRATIVE THERAPY/ "STORIED LIVES"

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POSTMODERNISM / NARRATIVE THERAPY/ "STORIED LIVES"

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"Angst" is normal...  We need it, for the push to create self, and become a self.

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Therapy is based on philosophy of "what it means to be human"... & managing anxiety of the "givens;" the troubling thoughts that insidiously rule us, and can impact our lives/choices in negative ways (i.e., fears about death, hopelessness, identity, & if we matter). If we can achieve the following, we find meaning and relief: Connect with others & realize we are not alone in the "givens," face anxiety they cause, accept it, live with courage, build a meaningful existence, own our actions/consequences, live authentically & with purpose, and view life for its opportunity rather than its tragedy. Therapy is based on ceasing to be victims of circumstance, exercising freedom of choice to self-direct life, developing potential to continuously re-create self with each choice and action, every day.