Charles Elin, LCSW

Existentialism and Psychotherapy

​​A search for personal and community freedom within the givens of biology and the structure of one's culture.  

Existential therapy takes a look at how we let others into our lives, how we remain alert to our own creativity and how the timing and meaning of our reflections affect our willingness to take a chance on ourselves, family and community.

The hallmark of any existential exploration is that we become who we are in the choices we freely make.  This does not mean we go through this process in isolation.  On the contrary, we make choices in relation to others, the people who enrich our lives and who are enriched by

our own.  Existential thinking, as it applies to the therapeutic challenge, is more of a grassroots process of discovery.  It accepts the necessary human conditions, common to all, and places greater philosophical weight on how we come to know, live with and accept these conditions. 

Existential therapy often works on the basics of communicating.

What does it mean to talk to another person?  Can language be respectful, yet opinionated?  Is intimacy possible?

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