Existential Well-being Counseling: A Person-centered Experiential Approach from edX

This humanities course offers you the opportunity to explore what really matters in life and teaches you how to nurture your well-being and enhance the well-being of others.

We will address themes in your personal and professional life and show you how to counsel at all stages. We start with a positive approach by giving attention to people’s talents. We recognize that human existence involves constraints and difficulties, which is why this course is based on the idea of “existential” well-being.

This course will teach you how to live fully as a human being, in this body, on this planet, while at the same time being conscious that you are just a small part of a vast, incomprehensible, universe.

Our experiential approach focuses on the innate wisdom of the human organism and our tendency to evolve in a forward-moving direction. You will learn how to become aware of this deeply felt knowledge by giving attention to your body as felt from the inside and to your emotions.

Our person-centered approach encourages building optimal human relationships through empathy, respect and authenticity. These are complex skills, which we will bring within your reach by means of simple exercises.

Through examples, role-play and video-demonstrations we will illustrate how you can apply our existential well-being approach in a variety of helping contexts, including counseling and psychotherapy. You will develop skills to embody the existential well-being approach as a person and as a professional.

Your learning will be enriched through exchanging thoughts and experiences with a diverse group of international participants. You will learn to notice how people from different cultures have different ideas about what it means to live well and meaningfully. You will engage in discussions where divergent values can be respectfully acknowledged. Your personal view of well-being will expand and deepen to a more universal perspective on what it means to be human.

This course is taught by instructors with decades of experience in existential psychotherapy, focusing -oriented and emotion-focused therapy, person-centered counseling and positive psychology.

The instructors are also teachers and researchers in the fields of psychotherapy, positive psychology, meaning and spirituality at KU Leuven, a prestigious European University.

This course offers you a high degree of flexibility. You can follow the content in sequence or choose to complete sections in order of interest to you. Be aware that it would be realistic to spend 6 to 8 hours on each section. You can follow your own rhythm in studying and practicing what is offered in each section.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Live meaningfully and make the best of different life situations
Build optimal human relationships
Focus on bodily felt wisdom

Facilitate emotional, cognitive and behavioral change
Improve counseling skills for different working contexts

Live meaningfully and make the best of different life situations
Build optimal human relationships
Focus on bodily felt wisdom
Facilitate emotional, cognitive and behavioral change
Improve counseling skills for different working contexts

Syllabus

1. Well-being and Positive psychology.

Getting tuned in to theories of well-being and positive psychology.

Developing awareness of well-being counseling.

Developing attitudes for well-being: gratitude, empathy and (self-)compassion, simplicity.

2. Existential approach: coping with human life.

Getting tuned in to existential theories.

Developing existential connection.

Developing awareness of existential givens.

Becoming sensitive to existential practice.

3. Dimensions of human existence: goals and values.

Addressing questions such as: “Who am I?” “What motivates and inspires me in my life?”

Improving awareness of different dimensions, goals and values in human development.

Recognizing imbalances and problems in human existence.

Practicing Focusing as a skill for self-development.

Being aware of similarities and differences between Focusing and Mindfulness.

4. Life Journey: Existential challenges and Strengths

Deepening life stories in the frame of existential and positive psychology.

Deepening existential themes: freedom, responsibility, choice, loss, sadness, grief, fear, solitude, finiteness and death.

Developing strengths: self-knowledge, anger, confrontation, conflicts, forgiveness, wisdom.

5. Meaning and Spirituality.

Exploring sources of meaning in life.

Expanding awareness to the spiritual dimension.

Developing virtues for living meaningfully and well. Including Love as the meaning giving virtue by excellence

6. Person-centered approach: interpersonal conditions of growth.

Developing growth-promoting relationships and presence.

Developing non-judgmental empathic relating and responding.

Developing authentic relating and responding and interactional confrontation.

Developing process-sensitivity and process-diagnosis.

7. Experiential approach: body-orientedness and intrapersonal conditions of growth.

Developing embodied presence.

Developing awareness of pre-verbal senses and body expressions.

Developing attitudes and interventions to facilitate intrapersonal conditions of growth.

Extending Focusing to non-verbal expressions and working with dreams.

8. Processing emotions and overcoming intrapersonal blocks

Being aware of commonest process-blocks such as feeling “nothing”, feeling overwhelmed, one part which is victimizing or attacking another.

Being aware of different styles of processing emotions.

Recognizing ways people get stuck in emotions.

Having some idea about Emotion-focused therapy.

9. Integration: Counseling from a person-centered, experiential, existential well-being perspective.

Integrating counseling skills.

Knowing how to start and end a counseling process.

Deepening skills for self-care and healing.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines existentialism's role in human well-being, making its contents relevant to those interested in existential psychology

Explores aspects of meaning, spirituality, and human potential, which are of interest to learners seeking personal growth

Provides counselors with a framework for working with clients on a holistic level, catering to those in the mental health field

Facilitates self-guided learning and flexible study, addressing the needs of busy individuals

Reviews summary

Enlightening existential counseling

Learners say this existential well-being counseling course is thought-provoking and illuminating. Students have exclaimed about the course material, saying they were amazed by it. Anyone interested in psychology, counseling, or the human condition is likely to enjoy this course.

This course focuses on exploring existential wellbeing.

Students were frequently amazed by the course content.

"I found myself amazed by the course material over and over again!"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Existential Well-being Counseling: A Person-centered Experiential Approach with these activities:

Review well-being and positive psychology theories

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Reviewing core concepts of well-being and positive psychology will reinforce understanding for this course.

Browse courses on Positive Psychology

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Identify key concepts and theories of well-being and positive psychology.
Reflect on your prior knowledge and experience with these concepts.

Read Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning

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Frankl's work provides a deep exploration of existential themes, offering insights relevant to the course content.

View Embracing Hope on Amazon

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Purchase or borrow a copy of Man's Search for Meaning.
Set aside time each day for reading and reflection.
Take notes or highlight key passages to aid in your understanding.

Practice body-oriented awareness techniques

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Regular practice of body-oriented techniques will enhance your ability to connect with and understand your own body.

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Explore different body-oriented techniques such as mindful breathing or body scanning.
Find a regular practice routine that resonates with you.
Pay attention to your bodily sensations and emotions.

Three other activities

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Facilitate a discussion on existential themes

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Engaging in group discussions on existential themes will allow you to explore diverse perspectives and deepen your understanding of these concepts.

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Identify key existential themes for discussion.
Prepare discussion questions to facilitate the conversation.
Moderate the discussion, ensuring equal participation and respectful dialogue.

Mentor a peer in the course

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Mentoring others will deepen your own understanding of the course material and provide support to fellow learners.

Browse courses on Mentoring

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Identify a peer who could benefit from your guidance.
Offer support, answer questions, and encourage their progress.

Design a well-being plan

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Creating a personalized well-being plan will help you apply the concepts learned in the course to your own life.

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Identify your values and goals.
Develop a plan with specific actions to enhance your well-being.
Monitor your progress and make adjustments as needed.

Career center

Learners who complete Existential Well-being Counseling: A Person-centered Experiential Approach will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Spiritual Director

Spiritual directors provide guidance and support to individuals seeking to deepen their spiritual lives. This course may be useful for spiritual directors as it provides a comprehensive understanding of existential well-being, positive psychology, and person-centered counseling approaches. The course's focus on meaning, purpose, and the development of virtues can help spiritual directors develop the skills necessary to effectively support individuals on their spiritual journeys.

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Employee Assistance Program Counselor

Employee assistance program counselors provide support and counseling to employees dealing with personal, social, and work-related issues. This course may be useful for employee assistance program counselors as it provides a foundation in existential well-being, positive psychology, and person-centered counseling approaches. The course's focus on building optimal human relationships and facilitating emotional, cognitive, and behavioral change can help employee assistance program counselors develop the skills necessary to effectively support employees.

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Psychotherapist

Psychotherapists provide mental health treatment to individuals, couples, and families. This course may be useful for psychotherapists as it provides a foundation in existential well-being, positive psychology, and person-centered counseling approaches. The course's emphasis on understanding the existential challenges and strengths of individuals, and its focus on facilitating emotional, cognitive, and behavioral change, can help psychotherapists develop the skills necessary to effectively support their clients.

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Chaplain

Chaplains provide spiritual and emotional support to individuals in hospitals, hospices, and other healthcare settings. This course may be useful for chaplains as it provides a comprehensive understanding of existential well-being, positive psychology, and person-centered counseling approaches. The course's focus on understanding the existential challenges and strengths of individuals, and its emphasis on facilitating emotional, cognitive, and behavioral change, can help chaplains develop the skills necessary to effectively support their clients.

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Youth Counselor

Youth counselors provide support and guidance to young people facing a variety of challenges, including mental health issues, substance abuse, and family problems. This course may be useful for youth counselors as it provides a foundation in existential well-being, positive psychology, and person-centered counseling approaches. The course's focus on building optimal human relationships and facilitating emotional, cognitive, and behavioral change can help youth counselors develop the skills necessary to effectively support young people.

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Life Coach

Life coaches provide guidance and support to individuals seeking to improve their personal and professional lives. This course may be useful for life coaches as it provides a foundation in existential well-being, positive psychology, and person-centered counseling approaches. The course's focus on helping individuals live meaningfully, build optimal relationships, and achieve their goals can help life coaches develop the skills necessary to effectively support their clients.

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Mediator

Mediators facilitate the resolution of disputes between parties. This course may be useful for mediators as it provides a foundation in existential well-being, positive psychology, and person-centered counseling approaches. The course's focus on building optimal human relationships and facilitating emotional, cognitive, and behavioral change can help mediators develop the skills necessary to effectively support disputing parties.

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Community Outreach Worker

Community outreach workers provide support and services to individuals and families in underserved communities. This course may be useful for community outreach workers as it provides a foundation in existential well-being, positive psychology, and person-centered counseling approaches. The course's focus on building optimal human relationships and facilitating emotional, cognitive, and behavioral change can help community outreach workers develop the skills necessary to effectively support individuals and families facing challenges.

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Conflict Resolution Specialist

Conflict resolution specialists help individuals and groups resolve conflicts in a constructive and peaceful manner. This course may be useful for conflict resolution specialists as it provides a foundation in existential well-being, positive psychology, and person-centered counseling approaches. The course's focus on building optimal human relationships and facilitating emotional, cognitive, and behavioral change can help conflict resolution specialists develop the skills necessary to effectively support disputing parties.

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Teacher

Teachers provide instruction and guidance to students in a variety of settings, including schools, colleges, and universities. This course may be useful for teachers as it provides a foundation in existential well-being, positive psychology, and person-centered counseling approaches. The course's focus on building optimal human relationships and facilitating emotional, cognitive, and behavioral change can help teachers develop the skills necessary to effectively support their students.

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Diversity and Inclusion Manager

Diversity and inclusion managers oversee the development and implementation of diversity and inclusion initiatives within an organization. This course may be useful for diversity and inclusion managers as it provides a foundation in existential well-being, positive psychology, and person-centered counseling approaches. The course's focus on building optimal human relationships and facilitating emotional, cognitive, and behavioral change can help diversity and inclusion managers develop the skills necessary to effectively create a diverse and inclusive work environment.

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Social Worker

Social workers provide support and assistance to individuals, families, and communities facing social, emotional, and economic challenges. This course may be useful for social workers as it provides a comprehensive understanding of existential well-being, positive psychology, and person-centered counseling approaches. The course's focus on building optimal human relationships and facilitating emotional, cognitive, and behavioral change can help social workers develop the skills necessary to effectively support their clients.

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Counselor

Counselors provide guidance and support to individuals and families dealing with a wide range of personal, social, and psychological issues. This course may be useful for counselors as it provides a comprehensive understanding of existential well-being, positive psychology, and person-centered counseling approaches. The course's focus on building optimal human relationships and facilitating emotional, cognitive, and behavioral change can help counselors develop the skills necessary to effectively support their clients.

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Human Resources Manager

Human resources managers oversee the recruitment, hiring, and development of employees within an organization. This course may be useful for human resources managers as it provides a foundation in existential well-being, positive psychology, and person-centered counseling approaches. The course's focus on building optimal human relationships and facilitating emotional, cognitive, and behavioral change can help human resources managers develop the skills necessary to effectively support employees and create a positive work environment.

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Organizational Development Consultant

Organizational development consultants help organizations improve their performance and effectiveness. This course may be useful for organizational development consultants as it provides a foundation in existential well-being, positive psychology, and person-centered counseling approaches. The course's focus on building optimal human relationships and facilitating emotional, cognitive, and behavioral change can help organizational development consultants develop the skills necessary to effectively support organizations in creating a positive and productive work environment.

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