Existential Analysis of Freedom. on the Practical and Psychotherapeutic Substantiation of Personal Freedom (Part 1)

Abstract

Freedom is the central theme in existential-oriented psychotherapy. At the beginning of the article, we show the importance of freedom for psychotherapy in general and described it as the central influencing element in existential-analytical sessions. Then the understanding of freedom in the anthropology of V. Frankl is described: freedom as a specific expression of the spiritual in man, which manifests itself in the will and in the search for meaning. The further development of existential analysis leads to the fact that will is comprehended broader than just in connection with the meaning — it is more closely related to conditioning, emotionality, the concept of self and the context. Freedom is understood as a process that is always carried out anew, it is conditioned by certain prerequisites and occurs in several stages through a dialogical exchange. Thus, freedom is expressed in the form of will as the intentionality of the whole person, and not only as a manifestation of his/her spirituality. This aspiration focuses on opportunities (not on the ideals or on the desired) and reaches a culmination in the act of consent.

Keywords

• psychotherapy
• existential analysis
• freedom
• Person
• will