Which of the following is NOT a key concept in existential therapy?

The concept of focusing on past traumas does not align with the core principles of existential therapy. Instead, existential therapy primarily emphasizes the individual’s current experience and their capacity for making choices in the present moment. It encourages clients to face their freedom, responsibilities, and the inherent anxieties that come with these. This approach is less concerned with delving into past traumas as a means to understand current psychological states.

On the other hand, the other concepts highlighted—freedom of choice and responsibility, striving for authenticity, and the search for meaning—are central to existential therapy. This therapeutic approach focuses on how individuals find personal meaning in their lives, confront the inevitability of death, and navigate the existential anxiety that arises from their choices. By promoting authenticity and self-awareness, existential therapy helps individuals live more fulfilling lives despite the challenges they may face.