Existential Counseling for an Extraordinary Community

Existential philosophy views the anticipation of death as an opportunity to live more authentically; in doing so Existentialism challenges us to take responsibility for our fundamental freedom and the creation of meaning in life. In addition, psychotherapeutic methods that consciously utilize core existential concepts appear to have beneficial effects on those experiencing grief or bereavement. In particular the psychotherapeutic method Logotherapy, which is grounded in existential analysis, appears to be especially conducive to grief therapy in practice. Logotherapy helps client find their ‘will to meaning,’ which has astounding implications for the bereaved individual’s meaning making process. Such implications, however, have not been much discussed in relation to the unique needs of individuals from the neuro-diverse population. For example, adaptations of grief therapies for the neuro-diverse population have had very little scholarly attention. While some practitioners have, by contrast, indicated that they offer grief therapy for the neuro-diverse, few of those have explicitly discussed the complications facing a healthy grieving process for neuro-diverse individuals. This project explores the incorporation of existential concepts into psychotherapy, with the aim of adapting existing methods of grief counseling for work with the neuro-diverse population. Research revealed Existential-Humanistic psychotherapy and Logotherapy as practices offering the most fruitful avenues for integrating existential concepts into psychotherapeutic methods. Following a survey of these methods, the project distinguishes key points of consonance between existential concepts and specific post-modern grief theories, and commits to a focus on meaning making as the most intersectional with existential concepts. Finally, the project recognizes the necessity of adapting existing methods to the unique needs of the neuro-diverse population, especially in their acts of meaning making, in order to promote a healthier grieving process. Taking the longer view, this project has provided me with an opportunity to continue my studies in Existentialism and expand my vision for a career in grief counseling. By viewing psychotherapeutic methods through an existential lens, I have created a foundation for my own future practice as a grief counselor while also drawing attention to the unique grief-related needs of the neuro-diverse population