Phenomenological Perspectives on Emotionality and Their Implications For Existential Psychotherapy

Abstract

Our clients' 'emotionality'1 is frequently the focus of much thera- peutic attention. Indeed, encouraging its expression and in particu- lar, asking what and how clients 'feel' about aspects of their lives, appears to be an assumed essential element in therapy. Nonetheless, such concepts are possibly used relatively unquestioningly by many therapists, particularly in the humanistic and other therapeutic 'ap- proaches'. This paper explores the understanding of such phenom- ena in the phenomenological/existential philosophical tradition, indicating their fundamental ontological significance and thus their particular relevance for the practice of existential psychotherapy. A number of psychological emotion theories are first briefly outlined, followed, by way of contrast, with an elaboration of aspects of some major phenomenologists' thought on emotionality. The specific im- plications of these for existential Psychotherapeutic practice are then considered. It is concluded that a phenomenological perspec- tive and method facilitate an enhanced understanding both of cli- ents' emotionality and of the therapeutic relationship.