In a 2- to 3-page paper, address the following: Briefly describe humanistic-existential psychotherapy and the second approach you selected. Explain at least three differences between these therapies. Include how these differences might impact your practice as a PMHNP. Focusing on one video you viewed, explain why humanistic-existential psychotherapy was utilized with the patient in the video and why it was the treatment of choice. Describe the expected potential outcome if the second approach had been used with the patient.

 There is a substantial difference between the humanistic-existential approach and other therapeutic methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT’s main principles include orientation of goals, setting specific time limits, and focusing on the present. CBT helps individuals modify their thinking patterns and behaviors considering the environment that they are in (Blom et al., 2017). There are three elements in CBT: behavioral, cognitive, and mindfulness-based therapies.

When comparing the humanistic approach to CBT, one can spot several key differences. The first differentiation point is the approach to seeing human nature. The humanistic-existential therapy emphasizes the impact of one’s choices on the person’s course of life. Therefore, the patient can choose the meaning of life and their values on their own (Farooqi, 2021). These assumptions imply that a human’s nature is dynamic and can change over time as the person can change their preferred meaning of life and values in the present. As a PMHNP using a humanistic-existential approach, one would view the recovery process as something tied to the patient’s nature.

CBT approaches the values, meaning of life, and patient recovery differently, emphasizing one’s conditions and experiences (Tanoue et al., 2018). More specifically, under the CBT approach, there is a link between thoughts, behaviors, and emotions, and therefore, a patient’s thoughts affect their mental well-being. Thus, a PMHNP using the CBT method would focus on identifying the negative thoughts of a patient as well as their unrealistic ideas about themselves and others and help adopt a more positive way of thinking. As a result, such an individual would learn to respond to these thoughts in a timely and effective manner.

The next substantial difference between these two approaches is the end goal of the therapy. With the humanistic-existential approach, patient has to learn to take responsibility for their lives (Pacciolla, 2019). Hence, an individual can mitigate their self-restrictions and focus on the life values and achievements that are important to them and not others. Moreover, they gain an in-depth understanding of their ideal life. The nurse helps the individual with attaining empathy, an unconditional positive view of themselves, and congruence. In this way, a PMHNP can help initiate the healing process and get rid of the conditions that do not allow an individual to live a fulfilled life. Therefore, the humanistic-existential style helps a person build a positive self-regard and focus their actions on achieving the life milestones that are important to them.

CBT, on the other hand, is more concerned with automatic thinking patterns and negative thoughts (Blom et al., 2017). The improvement of one’s quality of life is achieved through the change in thoughts and behaviors. In this way, the patient does not affect the conditions that make them feel miserable; instead, they modify their thinking (Y?lmaz et al., 2019). One example applicable to a PMHNP is an individual with an anxiety disorder. The first step under CBT would be to determine the negative thoughts that impact one’s perceptions and cause the feeling of anxiety. Next, the nurse would assist the patient in challenging their thoughts, followed by replacing the negative patterns with positive and more realistic ones.

The third distinction between the humanistic-existential approach and CBT is in the role of the psychiatrist within the therapy process. With the humanistic approach, there are no strict rules and protocols that a professional has to follow (Y?lmaz et al., 2019). This is because each patient is considered to be unique, with experiences and values that are not comparable to others; hence therapy is based on sharing personal experiences. However, even though the steps of the therapy are not clearly defined, the goals of a humanistic-existential are essential for this therapeutic style, such as growth and self-actualization (Heidenreich et al., 2021).