Find Existential Therapy

At its core, existential therapy is a deeply philosophical and human-centered form of psychotherapy. Drawing from the work of great thinkers like Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, Martin Heidegger, and Viktor Frankl, existential therapy invites clients to sit with life’s most difficult — and most universal — challenges. While many forms of therapy seek to diagnose or “fix” something that’s wrong, existential psychotherapy approaches suffering differently. It recognizes that pain, uncertainty, and mortality are inherent parts of being human. Rather than eliminate these struggles, existential therapy helps clients face them with honesty and courage.

In existential counseling, the goal is not to chase symptom relief alone, but to help individuals confront what it means to live fully and authentically. Clients are invited to reflect on their values, choices, regrets, and desires. The therapist becomes a partner in this process, not an authority figure with easy answers. Through open dialogue, clients explore their unique existence and begin to create meaning, even in the midst of suffering or uncertainty.

Many people turn to existential psychotherapy during times of profound upheaval. After major life events such as divorce, the death of a loved one, career changes, retirement, or illness, individuals often feel lost, numb, or disconnected from their sense of purpose. They may find themselves haunted by difficult questions: Why am I here? What really matters? What comes next?

For others, existential anxiety can emerge from an ongoing sense of emptiness, regret over past choices, or the burden of responsibility for one’s own freedom. Some people struggle with spiritual crises, questioning previously held beliefs and searching for something deeper. And while other therapies may have provided temporary relief, clients often feel something deeper remains unresolved — a longing not just for coping skills, but for real meaning-making.

Existential therapy offers a space to explore these questions directly. It allows clients to sit with discomfort, face uncertainty, and discover personal values that can guide their lives in a more authentic direction.

Unlike therapies that focus narrowly on specific symptoms, existential therapy holds space for the full spectrum of life’s challenges. Many clients seek out existential therapy when grappling with loss, mortality, identity, and freedom. For some, the fear of death creates overwhelming anxiety, while others feel trapped in lives that no longer align with their values. Grief, regret, guilt, and spiritual emptiness often bring people to this work.

Existential therapy also helps those facing crossroads in life — whether choosing between competing life paths, experiencing an identity crisis, or wrestling with questions about purpose and belonging. Even without specific trauma, the weight of simply being alive and responsible for one’s choices can feel crushing. Existential therapy helps clients hold these paradoxes without judgment, providing support as they navigate life’s complexity.

Sessions in existential counseling are open-ended, collaborative conversations. Unlike structured therapies with set agendas, existential therapy unfolds organically. Clients are encouraged to speak freely about their experiences, values, and fears. The therapist provides a calm, reflective presence, gently helping clients examine their relationship to freedom, responsibility, regret, loss, and meaning.

Rather than give advice or solutions, the existential therapist serves as a witness — offering empathy, thoughtful questions, and a space for deeper reflection. Sometimes, sessions include periods of silence, allowing clients to sit with uncomfortable feelings rather than rushing to escape them. Clients may receive existential "homework" between sessions, such as journaling exercises or reflective readings that encourage continued exploration.

Because there’s no single “right way” to do existential therapy, each session is tailored to the individual’s needs and life context. The work moves at the client’s pace, respecting the time it takes to engage in such deep and vulnerable reflection.

Existential psychotherapy offers a different kind of healing. Rather than trying to eliminate all suffering, it helps clients find personal meaning even in the presence of pain. By normalizing existential anxiety — the natural fear of uncertainty, freedom, and mortality — clients learn to navigate life without being paralyzed by it.

Clients often report feeling more grounded emotionally after existential therapy. They become better able to tolerate ambiguity and make peace with life's inherent uncertainty. Instead of harsh self-blame, existential therapy encourages taking responsibility for choices in a compassionate and empowered way. Clients also find ways to integrate past grief, loss, or trauma into a broader life narrative that brings coherence and acceptance.

This process of meaning-making often brings not only symptom relief but also a stronger sense of resilience, purpose, and emotional stability.