OLIVER FRAWLEY
I work mainly existentially. The existential approach draws on thousands of years of philosophical debate to establish a framework which enables people to make sense of their lives.I do not label my clients as mentally ill or see them as suffering from some type of psychopathology but rather as people having difficulties in certain areas of their lives. I do not inhabit the role of expert but rather see myself as fellow-traveller where client and therapist are equally involved in exploring the clients way of living in a way that makes him/her make greater sense of it. This approach accepts that there are certain existential givens which limit our freedom which must be faced with courage and around which we must construct our own values and meanings. The focus is always on the clients worldview,i.e on their particular way of seeing life and how they are living it. An existential approach believes in the clients ability to take responsibility and make the choices that create meaning in their lives.As an existential therapist I recognise that the quality of the relationship between therapist and client is of utmost importance. I do not impose my interpretation nor provide prescriptions.I stay with what the client presents and through dialogue with him/her enable the client to get greater insight into his/her dilemmas.Clients learn that whatever difficulties they are facing the have the freedom to choose their response to them.
