Chapter 39: Existential Counseling:

Existentialism dates back to the days and times when Socrates provided counseling to individuals seeking to learn the meaning of their own existence. As Längle (2005) stated, “existence means having a chance to change things for the better, to experience what is of value and to avoid or to eliminate what could be damaging or harmful” (p. 3). The roots of existential thought can also be found in the works of Martin Buber, Victor Frankl, Martin Heidegger, Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Blaise Pascal, Jean-Paul Sartre, Clement Vontress, and Irvin Yalom. The frameworks established by each of those early and contemporary existential philosophers can be summed up in the words of Rollo May (1953) who stated,” joy, rather than happiness, is the goal of life, for joy is the emotion which accompanies our fulfilling our natures as human beings. It is based on the experience of one’s identity as a being of worth and dignity” (p. 67).