An Existential Processual Method for freeing from occupying experiences:

1. An Existential Processual Methodfor freeing from occupying experiences: Personal Existential Analysis Längle Alfried, M.D., Ph.D.International Society for Logotherapy and Existential Analysis, Vienna www.existential-analysis.org / www.laengle.info

2. 1. The background [a glimpse on Existential Analysis- Vienna]

3. Aim of Existential Analysis: to help the person to live with inner consent to what he/she is doing

4. Existential Analysis: Process model[Structural model] Power of [Basis of the person existence] PEA[Fundamental ex. Motivations]

5. Process of consent denotes → mobilisation of the “person“

6. 2. What is the“person“

7. Being a person means: dialogical exchange with oneself and others [ basic principle of EA]

8. IInner world Person Outer worldPerson stands in continuous inner and outer dialogue

9. Some descriptions of “person“: • What is saying “I“ within oneself • What is free in the subject  choosing, deciding, feeling responsible

10. Some descriptions of “person“: • Autonomous, authentic, pure subjectivity • This with what I identify with me • Also “self-efficacy”

11. 3. Specific power/potential of the “person“

12. Specific potentials of the“person“: • to be receptive  An inner world is attainable An autonomous world is approachable

13. Specific potentials of the“person“: 2. to be understanding  Connects new / strange information with own / known

14. Specific potentials of the“person“: 3. to be responsive  Something new, genuine, original comes to the world – corresponding to its demands

15. to be understandingPERSONto be receptive to be responsive [The specific potentials of the person seen as a process]

16. Psychological health: When a person is able to realize these potentials  She or he can be present in the actual situation

17. Subjective experience of these potentials: Inner Positioning Impression Expression

18. Hindrance of the personal potentials: • Impression: one may be confused, overwhelmed, alienated, hurt, anxious… • Inner positioning: one may be confused, exerted, unsure, thrown… • Expression: one may be strained, anxious in showing oneself, helpless in realization

19. Hindrances of the personal potentials: Inner Positioning Impression Expression

20. Result: To be oneself in each situation ≠ automatic and natural ≠ succeeding always = endeavour! Failure psychopathology

21. 4. The application

22. Short form: • How is it for you? E.g. to live without a relationship… 2. What is your opinion? E.g. about the fact that you life alone? 3. What would you do? E.g. what would you say to a woman who would ask me about that?

23. Psychotherapeutic application: PEA 0: information [Not specific for PEA] Watch: unclear passages Contradictions Missing elements no opinions Attitude of Psychotherapist: cognitive-empathetic

24. PEA 0: Information – What happened? Tasks Aims Coming to terms with reality, as it really is Relate to real situation Face and deal with rather than avoid facts of existence • Description • What happened? • Stay with facts and description of emotions • Minimize opinions, wishes, and explanations

25. Impediment of writing: PEA 0: information Teacher: “You cannot write – you will never succeed!” Mother: “Your sister is much better than you in writing. You must read more!”

26. PEA 1 - impression:= analysis of experience“How is it for you?” • Primary emotion  spontanous feelings • Impulse  automatic impulse • Phenomenological content  received message Attitude of Psychotherapist: empathetic

27. Impediment of writing: • Primary emotion  tense like in test-situation; fear of failure • Impulse  run away • Phenomenological content  devaluation: lack of intelligence – senseless to try to get it; no respect for you!

28. PEA 2 – inner positioning:= integration & finding the own“What do you make of it?” • Understanding  combining the new with the old • Emotional/sensed Evaluation  moral conscience • Cognitive Evaluation  taking a stand • Finding One’s Will active decision – basis for activity Attitude of Psychotherapist: confronting

29. Understanding • Self-Understanding • Why does it hurt/shatter/irritate? • Do you recognize the values which were hurt? • Understanding the Other • Necessary for dialogical existence • Necessary to restore trust in the world and in the Mitwelt • Gives orientation for being together • Clarify What is Not Understood

30. Emotional Evaluation • The personally sensed evaluation invokes moral conscience – personal moral conscience, not extension of religious or societal conscience • Do you have the feeling that it was OK, right, correct? • Did it do justice to you? • Have you been seen? • Did you do justice to the other?

31. Cognitive Evaluation • Cognitive, conscious position • Integration of knowledge and sensations in order to inform cognitive judgments • What do I think about (my mother)? • How do I judge the other person’s behavior?

32. Finding One’s Will • What is moving? • What is the direction of the movement? • Does something need to be done?

33. Impediment of writing: • understanding  teacher was bad looking, unsightly • moral conscience  was not correct; I am fairly good • taking a stand  she had a problem with me because I was so pretty • finding one’s will start writing

34. PEA 3 - expression:= filters & active answer“What will you do?” • What?  shame • To whom?  be reasonable • When?  occasion • How?  means & modalities Attitude of Psychotherapist: supportive

35. Impediment of writing: • What?  plan of paper • To whom?  for herself • When?  now • How?  in rebellion against teacher…

36. Indication:  Finding oneself: • emotionally • cognitively • in one’s action/behaviour

37. 5.) Synopsis

38. Deep evaluation understanding taking position of personswillunderstanding accomodateof content to reality Psychodynamicsaction

39. moral consciencegenerallyunderstanding ? taking positionthe other concretely oneself will what message to whom impulse when primary emotion how

40. Understanding/Inner Positioning PEA Summary Abstract Connects with knowledge and experience Conscience Deepest sense ofaccordance; Integrated Emotion; “Bottom of my heart” sense General Cognitive Positioning What do you think such a behavior and person? PEA 2 Personal (Specific) Positioning Understanding What do I personally say to that?, or what do I personally think about this person? What don‘t I understand? U 3 Will Content of expressionWhat would I really like to do? Do I understand the other? U 2 Filter Do I understand myself? What moves me? U 1 F 1 Modesty: What can I do here and now? Howmuch do I want to reveal? Phenomenal content What does this tell me? The received F 2 Reason Towhom? Does it fit with these people? PEA 1 PEA 3 ImpulseWhat am I moved to do ? F 3 Means / modalityHowand by what means is the best way? Primary emotion Feeling What do I feel? F 4 Time When? – At which opportunity? AdaptationAccording with the expected reactionSelf-acceptance DESCRIPTION (PEA 0) INFORMATION 4. FMWhere does it lead to? 3. FMCan I respect myself? 2. FMDo I like to live? 1. FMCan I be? Expression Receptivity/Impression

41. UNDERSTANDING SELF-TRANSCENDENCE SELF-DISTANCE Emotional Evaluation/ Personal Moral Conscience/: In the bottom of my heart, was this right? …to me? …to the other? Have I , has s/he, been seen? Has it been just? PEA Summary Abstract Connects with knowledge and experience POSITION PEA-2 Person SELF-ACCEPTANCE General Cognitive Positioning: What do I think about a person who…? What do I not understand? PEA-1 EXPRESSION IMPRESSION Personal Positioning: What do I personally say about this situation, about this person/s behaviour? Other-Understanding: What can I understand about the other? DESCRIPTION PEA 0 RECEPTIVITY RESPONSIVENESS Personal Discerning My Will: What would I really like to do? What needs to be done? Self-Understanding: Why does this move me? What: What do I decide to do? Phenomenological Content: What does this tell me? To Whom: Is there somebody I need to address? Impulse: What am I moved to do? PEA-3 When: When is it possible/ appropriate? Primary Emotion: What do I feel? How: How will I do this? What preparation is needed? What happened, really? FM! 4: What am I here for? FM! 1: I am here. Can I be? FM! 2: I am alive. Do I like to be? FM! 3: I am me. Can I be me?