# Comparing Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
## Introduction
Humanistic-existential psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are two distinct approaches within the field of psychotherapy. Each offers unique methods and philosophies for addressing mental health issues, making them suitable for different types of patients and therapeutic goals.
## Description of Therapies
### Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy
Humanistic-existential psychotherapy focuses on the individual’s experience, emphasizing personal growth, self-awareness, and the search for meaning. Key principles include:
– **Authenticity**: Encouraging clients to be true to themselves.
– **Personal Responsibility**: Helping clients take responsibility for their actions and their impact on life circumstances.
– **Self-Actualization**: Striving for personal growth and fulfillment.
### Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a structured, goal-oriented therapy that focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. Key principles include:
– **Cognitive Restructuring**: Identifying and challenging distorted thoughts.
– **Behavioral Activation**: Encouraging engagement in activities that improve mood.
– **Skills Training**: Teaching coping skills to manage stress and anxiety.
## Differences Between Therapies
### Focus and Goals
1. **Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy**: Focuses on personal growth, self-discovery, and existential concerns. It aims to help clients find meaning and purpose in life.
2. **CBT**: Focuses on symptom reduction and changing maladaptive thoughts and behaviors. It aims to alleviate specific psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression.
### Therapeutic Techniques
1. **Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy**: Uses techniques like open-ended questions, reflective listening, and exploration of existential themes.
2. **CBT**: Utilizes structured interventions such as cognitive restructuring, exposure therapy, and homework assignments.
### Patient-Therapist Relationship
1. **Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy**: Emphasizes a deep, empathetic connection between therapist and patient, viewing the relationship as a central component of therapy.
2. **CBT**: Views the therapist as a coach or teacher, focusing on collaboration and active problem-solving.
## Impact on PMHNP Practice
As a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), understanding these differences can guide the choice of therapeutic approach based on patient needs. For example:
– **Humanistic-Existential Approach**: Suitable for patients seeking deeper self-understanding and meaning in life.
– **CBT**: Appropriate for patients needing structured interventions to address specific symptoms like anxiety or depression.
## Case Example from Media
In the video, humanistic-existential psychotherapy was utilized with a patient experiencing a crisis of meaning following a significant loss. The therapist focused on helping the patient explore their feelings and find new purpose, facilitating personal growth and emotional healing.
**Expected Outcome with CBT**: If CBT had been used, the focus would have been on identifying negative thoughts related to the loss and developing coping strategies to manage depressive symptoms. While this could provide symptom relief, it might not address the deeper existential concerns of the patient.
## Conclusion
Both humanistic-existential psychotherapy and CBT offer valuable approaches to therapy, each with its strengths and challenges. By understanding these differences, PMHNPs can tailor their therapeutic interventions to meet the unique needs of their patients.
## References
– Anton, R. F., O’Malley, S. S., Ciraulo, D. A., et al. (2006). Combined pharmacotherapies and behavioral interventions for alcohol dependence: The COMBINE study. *JAMA*, 295(17), 2003-2017.
– Gehart, D. R. (2024). *Mastering competencies in family therapy: A practical approach to theories and clinical case documentation* (4th ed.). Cengage Learning.
– Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2020). *Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice* (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing.
### Supporting Sources
1. Gehart (2024) provides comprehensive insights into experiential family therapies, making it a scholarly source due to its evidence-based approach and academic rigor.
2. Wheeler (2020) offers practical guidelines for various psychotherapeutic approaches, validated by extensive research, and is therefore a credible scholarly resource.
3. Anton et al. (2006) study is peer-reviewed and provides empirical evidence supporting the efficacy of combined pharmacotherapies and behavioral interventions, solidifying its scholarly validity.
*Attachments*: PDFs of the supporting sources (if available).
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By incorporating detailed comparisons, real-world applications, and scholarly references, this paper aims to provide a thorough understanding of humanistic-existential psychotherapy and its comparison with CBT, facilitating informed therapeutic decisions in clinical practice.
COMPARING HUMANISTIC-EXISTENTIAL PSYCHOTHERAPY WITH OTHER APPROACHES
Understanding the strengths of each type of therapy and which type of therapy is most appropriate for each patient is an essential skill of the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. In this Assignment, you will compare humanistic-existential therapy to another psychotherapeutic approach. You will identify the strengths and challenges of each approach and describe expected potential outcomes.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
To prepare:
· Review the humanistic-existential psychotherapy videos in this week’s Learning Resources.
· Reflect on humanistic-existential psychotherapeutic approaches.
· Then, select another psychotherapeutic approach to compare with humanistic-existential psychotherapy. The approach you choose may be one you previously explored in the course or one you are familiar with and especially interested in.
THE ASSIGNMENT
In a 2- to 3-page paper, address the following:
· Briefly describe humanistic-existential psychotherapy and the second approach you selected.
· Explain at least three differences between these therapies. Include how these differences might impact your practice as a PMHNP.
· Focusing on one video you viewed, explain why humanistic-existential psychotherapy was utilized with the patient in the video and why it was the treatment of choice. Describe the expected potential outcome if the second approach had been used with the patient.
· Support your response with specific examples from this week’s media and at least three peer-reviewed, evidence-based sources. Explain why each of your supporting sources is considered scholarly. Attach the PDFs of your sources.
Note: The School of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available at http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates ). All papers submitted must use this formatting.
LEARNING RESOURCES
· American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders Links to an external site. (5th ed., text rev.). https://go.openathens.net/redirector/waldenu.edu?url=https://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/doi/book/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
· “Culture and Psychiatric Diagnosis”
· Gehart, D. R. (2024). Mastering competencies in family therapy: A practical approach to theories and clinical case documentation (4th ed.). Cengage Learning.
· Chapter 8, “Experiential Family Therapies”
· Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2020). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing.
· Chapter 6, “Humanistic-Existential and Solution-Focused Approaches to Psychotherapy”
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