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Juan Camilo Tovar Castro

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Which is better for you and why as approaches to clinical and counseling psychology? Existentialism or cognitive behavioral therapy?

I just want to know what you think about it and why. Thanks.

Topics: Behavioral psychology clinical psychology cognitive psychology counseling psychology existentialism humanism psychology
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Closing Statement from Juan Camilo Tovar Castro

Somehow I feel I already know that cognitive approach is really pluggin it into people lives and it's the best approach as Debra Smith but I feel kind of a romantic connection to existentialism :/ Wow I think that I should do what David Matta does. Thanks for your contributions!

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  • David Matta

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    Jul 26 2012: Cognitive behavioral theory is suitable for the majority. It is soft and provides gradual insight into oneself. Existentialism is more eclectic and suitable to philosophers, religious people, artists, or the chosen few. Not many people are able to tell (or even conceive of) the difference between facticity and authenticity or are ready to face angst and despair.
    The one appeals to reason and the other to meaning beyond reason. I practice existentialism twice a week and mostly over the weekend otherwise it is all cognition. This is safer. Cheers!
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    Debra Smith 200+

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    Jul 22 2012: Right now |I think it is Cognitive as it is finding more support from neuroscience but it might not always be this way. As people learn how to operationalize existentialism more experiments and thus determinations will come out of it. Even so I think cognitive will still have an advantage in plugging it in to people's lives.
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    V Alexander

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    Jul 20 2012: That would seem to depend on the patient and what exactly the patient problem is. Even though CBT appears ideal for many treatments there may be a particular patient more suited to an existentialist approach even in a CBT-appropriate case of mood, anxiety, personality, eating, substance abuse, tic, or psychotic disorder. I'm not sure if the converse is true - whether CBT sometimes has extra efficacy in the reverse situation - but again it really depends on the patient. I would hazard the suggestion of first considering the patient, and then the cure. :)
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