Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
A psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) should know the different psychotherapeutic techniques to be able to treat the patient in a patient-centered approach. Each of the therapies possesses its own benefits, approaches, and outcomes, depending on the requirements of the patient. This paper will compare humanistic-existential psychotherapy to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a focus on differences, clinical implications, and expected outcomes in practice.
Overview of Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy and CBT
The humanistic- existential psychotherapy accents the subjective experience of the individual, on personal development, and on meaning-seeking. It focuses on the self, will, and therapeutic relationships as the primary elements of healing. This approach involves therapists who are emphatic, unconditionally positive towards the patients, and authentic to allow the patients to work on their feelings and self-actualize (Center, 2026). On the other hand, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a goal-oriented therapy that is systematic and aims at identifying and altering maladaptive thoughts and behaviors. CBT is premised on the fact that emotional distress, too, is the result of distorted thoughts, and in the event of a change in thoughts, patients can also have a superior mental health outcome. It is normally used in depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
The key differences and how they impact the practice of PMHNP.
One of the significant differences is the focus of these therapies. People can be treated with humanistic-existential and CBT therapies because they are founded on emotional exploration and sense making, problem-solving, and symptom elimination. This disparity affects treatment planning as a PMHNP since the patient who has to know himself better can respond more to humanistic therapy. In contrast, the patient who has to attain immediate relief of the symptom may react more to CBT. The other difference is the format of therapy sessions. Humanistic- existential therapy is prescriptive and flexible, and this is the reason why patients are at liberty to take the discussion into their own hands. CBT, on the other hand, is highly organized and inclined to homework and some activities such as cognitive restructuring. In practice, it will mean that CBT may be more effective in clinical practice under time constraints, and humanistic therapy in the case of long-term personal development (Center, 2026). The third difference is in the role of therapists. A humanistic-existential therapist is an enabler, supportive, and facilitates a supportive environment, which leads to self-discovery. CBT is more educational, and the task of the therapist is to educate the patients about the methods of changing their thinking patterns. It influences the style and level of direct intervention when communicating during the sessions, when the case of PMHNPs is concerned.
Video Case Applied to.
Humanistic-existential psychotherapy was applied in the chosen video since the patient was not experiencing certain maladaptive behaviors, but some problems in identity, meaning, and expressing emotions. The therapist was geared towards building rapport, displaying empathy, and assisting the patient to open up and explore their inner experience (Vanhooren, 2022). This approach was appropriate as it allowed the patient to feel heard and justified, which is essential to individuals who cannot cope with existential problems. The therapist could have addressed the areas of unproductive thinking and behavior change had CBT been used. Though this could have been a relief to some symptoms, it may have been short in addressing the underlying emotional and existential issues that the patient presented. As a result, the patient might not have improved as much, and as gracefully, with the same level of self-awareness and personal growth.
Expected Outcomes
In this case, humanistic-existential therapy should have a more beneficial impact on self-awareness, emotional outbursts, and sense of meaning and purpose. Patients have been known to feel more authentic and empowered. The anticipated results would probably have been alleviated symptoms of distress, improved coping mechanisms, and cognitive functioning, had CBT been administered. However, the richness of emotional exploration and existential solution may be wanting as compared to humanistic therapy.
Scholarly Support
The sources that have been used in this discussion are scholarly in the sense that they are peer-reviewed, published in good academic journals, and are empirically based studies.
- The evidence of the effectiveness of psychotherapy provided by a meta-analysis shows that CBT is very effective in reducing the symptoms of anxiety and depression, as it is very structured and evidence-based.
- Humanistic-existential therapy has been studied and has been identified as successful in improving self-concept, emotional processing, and long-term personal development.
- Comparative analysis of therapeutic methods points out that the therapeutic relationship, an important element of humanistic therapy, is an important factor in patient outcomes in any given modality (Chand et al., 2023).
These are scholarly articles as they are well-reviewed by peers, they include references to earlier research, and are authored by individuals in the field of psychology and mental health.
Conclusion
Humanistic-existential psychotherapy and CBT are both valuable methods of mental health treatment. Humanistic therapy is centered on personal growth and meaning, unlike CBT, which is centered on the change in symptoms and behavior. Being a PMHNP, knowledge of these differences can result in more personalized and effective care of patients. The decision on the appropriate therapy is made depending on the needs, goals, and concerns of the patient, presenting them such that the therapeutic outcomes will be the best.
References
Center. (2026). Chapter 6 –Brief Humanistic and Existential Therapies. Nih.gov; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64939/
Chand, S. P., Kuckel, D. P., & Huecker, M. R. (2023, May 23). Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470241/
Vanhooren, S. (2022). Existential Empathy: The Challenge of “Being” in Therapy and Counseling. Religions, 13(8), 752. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13080752
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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.
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.