Existential-Integrative Therapy: Foundational Implications for Integrative Practice

This article provides an overview and case application of the existential-integrative (EI) approach to psychotherapy. I developed the EI approach based on the existential-humanistic work of Rollo May and James Bugental. In the first section of the article, the EI approach is introduced and described with a particular focus on its central and evidence-based principles. In the second section of the article, a therapeutic case is provided to illustrate the principles of the EI approach. In the final section of the article a discussion of the findings is interwoven with a call for greater attention to EI practices among integrative theorists, researchers, and practitioners. It is concluded that for their optimization, the existential bases of all bona fide therapies may be foundational.