Existential therapy centers on which themes?

• A. Loneliness, isolation, freedom, and responsibility as central concerns.
• B. Unconscious psychosexual development.
• C. Focus on reward schedules to shape behavior.
• D. A direct, therapist-led interpretation of issues.

Answer: (A)

Existential therapy centers on loneliness, isolation, freedom, and responsibility as central concerns. It views the human condition as a search for meaning in a world without predetermined answers, emphasizing authentic living, personal choice, and the anxiety that comes with freedom. The goal is for clients to examine how their values, choices, and relationships shape their sense of purpose rather than analyzing unconscious drives or modifying behavior through rewards, and rather than having the therapist dictate interpretations. In contrast, other approaches focus on unconscious psychosexual development, external reinforcement schedules, or therapist-led interpretation, which lie outside the existential framework.