Existential and Person

Centered Therapy
By: Arianne Broadnax
Kathryn Thompson
Zachary Boston

Bipolar Disorder: From

Psychoeducational to
Existential group Therapy
Aim of study was to assess the
importance of psychoeducational and
existential issues in group therapy
for patients with Bipolar disorder.

Person-Centered Therapy
Human beings are inherently good
Human motivation to constructively grow to full
potential; self-actualizing tendency
Humanistic: trusts individuals, sees growth
potential and harmonious relationships
Phenomenological: understanding ones
perceptions of reality is critical to understanding
an individual; perception is reality

Four Fundamental
Conditions

Bipolar individuals confront the following conditions

essential for a fulfilled existence: (Goldner-Vukov,
Moore, & Cupina, 2007)
the world in its factuality and potentiality;
life with its network of relationships and its
feelings;
being oneself or existing as a unique,
autonomous person;
the future that we shape through the
development of our activities

 If experiences are inconsistent with

our self-concepts, we will have
difficulty allowing ourselves to
perceive them (Murdock, 2012).
In Person-Centered Therapy humans
engage in an ongoing process of
evaluating experiences to determine
if it contributes to ones growth or
detracts from it (Murdock, 2012).

The good life

Existential psychotherapy helps bipolar individuals to find a
way of life wherein they can give inner consent to their own
actions. It enables a person to experience life freely, to
arrive at authentic decisions and to find a responsible way
of dealing with inner self and the world (Goldner-Vukov, et al.,
2007).

In PC Therapy the healthy person is a congruent person. The

individual trusts himself to follow the right paths, and the
person naturally orients toward experiences that actualize
(Murdock, 2012).

Patients learned through strong peer confrontation that

freedom was more about responsibility for ones actions and
decisions (Goldner-Vukov, et al., 2007).

Who am I in this world?

Finding a purpose in life was difficult for the bipolar

individuals. Inquiries led to discussions on life goalsand
self-actualization. The majority of patients tried very hard to
find meaning in life through creativity, further education
and meaningful relationships (Goldner-Vukov, et al., 2007).

In PC Therapy, the need for positive regard motivates

individuals to seek love from important others around them
(Murdock, 2012).

Goals

The goal of Person-Centered Therapy is to facilitate the

clients journey toward full potential. Through the
acceptance of the counselor, the client can accept his
experiences and become more in touch with his actualizing
tendency (Murdock, 2012).

Incongruent Congruent

The bipolar individuals learned by facing basic issues of life

and death that they could live more honestly and be less
caught up in trivialities. And although they suffered from
bipolar disorder, they were ultimately responsible for their
lives and altering their environment (Goldner-Vukov, et al.,
2007).

Population Studied
10 patients with bipolar disorder 6
women, 4 men.
Average age-36 with an average
duration of diagnosed bipolar
disorder was 12 years.
All held university degrees, half full
time employed.

Intervention Utilized
3 Modalities
Psychoeducation
Cognitive Interventions
After one year group focus shifted to
therapy with a strong influence on
existential issues.

Results
After 2 years of group therapy
Two experienced minor relapses
No hospitalization
Nine employed full time
Adherence with pharmacotherapy was
100%
Each member reported improvement in
family and social function
High level of satisfaction

Case Study : Miriam

Background
32 year old single Caucasian female
Bachelors in History
Employed full time as a World History
teacher in Auckland, New Zealand
Taxing home life as an adolescent
Manic episodes began at 14 years old

Presenting Problems
Full time position is challenging due
to her symptoms.
Occasional periods of anhedonia
hinders her functioning.
Increased difficulties due to increase
in expectations that accompany a full
time position.

Clinical Concerns
Cyclic mood patterns/mania
Fear that her symptoms will impact
her success with her new position.
Increased environmental stimuli in a
large high school setting compared
to her previous part time job.

Intervention
Assigned to a living skills group under 2
psychiatrists in Auckland
Group sessions once weekly for 12
weeks followed by once monthly for the
next 21 months.
Exposed to BDI, YMRS and MDQ, which
indicated euthymia
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test showed
difficulties with set shifting,
perseveration and rigidity in thinking.

Steps To Wellness
Miriam began with psycho education
Goal planning sessions utilized to
assist Miriam with goal planning.
Moved on to Cognitive interventions.
Provided insight into problem solving
her current anxieties and job related
stress factors.

Existential Focus
Final step in therapy.
Emphasized concerns of isolation,
death, creativity and spirituality.
Highlighted that Miriam is free and
responsible for her life.
Discovery of meaning through working,
Miriams Mitwelt.
After time, therapist was able to
address Miriams issues surrounding her
concerns with death and loneliness.

Outcome
Total number of relapses and
hospitalizations reduced.
Sustained her employment.
More able to respond to demands,
completing lesson plans and cope
with the increased stimuli of her new
environment.

New View on Life

Improved overall social functioning.
Met a friend and sustained contact at
a workshop for 4 months.
Significant satisfaction with
treatment.
Enjoyment of personal activities.
Teacher of the Year.

Conclusion
Existential and Person Centered
Therapy can be an effective mode of
therapeutic interventions.
Clients show improvements over
many facets of life, socially and
personally.
High level of satisfaction in the
overall therapeutic process.

Resources
Goldner-Vukov, Mila, Moore, Laurie-Jo,
Cupina, Denise. (2007)Bipolar
Disorder: From Psychoeducational to
Existential Group Therapy.
Australasian Psychiatry Vol. 15, No. 1.
Murdock, Nancy. (2012) Theories of
Counseling and Psychotherapy: A
Case Approach. (3rd ed.). New York:
Pearson Education, Inc.