Existential Therapy for Older Adults: Tending to a Garden of Meaning-Centered Choices

Therapy at Operation SafeLink is all about digging in for one's own legacy and sense of fulfillment or life satisfaction on your own terms. How can we make more meaningful choices and give ourselves choices in our lives? How can we ensure our freedom and our say when our wherewithal limits what we physically are capable of in our hearts and mind? How can we safely prepare for a good death and put a pin on it afterwards to revisit when that time comes, live joyfully without having that to constantly worry about? How can we revisit ourselves in context of our loved ones and society and feel more meaning about who we are and who we would like to be now? The focus is YOU. Not what diagnosis you have or what other people have to say about it.

Existential therapy is centered on assisting individuals in confronting life's fundamental issues, including freedom, choice, responsibility, and the quest for meaning. This therapeutic approach can be particularly advantageous during a transition to retirement and during the golden years, as it helps foster a sense of purpose and fulfillment when other members of family or society are detached from that reality or understanding for you or if you are struggling with the pain or grief of retirement or loss.

Using Psychodynamic deep reflections into one's past and how that surfaces today, Adlerian exploration to one's sense of inferiorities and superiorities, and opportunities for experiential expression along the lines of the techniques below to open your mind to these discussions, we can get to those deeper existential identity concerns of how one is, how one wants to be, and how one wants to live in the world with others to be able to make the most meaning and purpose to living and ending our mortal phase of existing.

There are some techniques for opening the mind to one's legacy and preparing for a good (eventual) death that make today's living so much richer and pleasant.

Here are a few ideas you can do on your own if you wish to open your heart and mind to existential work but are not ready for therapy.

Life Review and Reflection

One effective technique is life review and reflection, which encourages individuals to contemplate their life experiences, allowing them to recognize patterns, achievements, and lessons learned. This reflective process may involve journaling about significant life events, creating a timeline of personal milestones, and discussing memories with family and friends. You may want to create a personal legacy project, such as writing a memoir or recording life stories.

Cultivating Authentic Relationships

Cultivating authentic relationships is vital for a fulfilling life. Techniques to build meaningful connections include encouraging open and honest communication with loved ones, participating in community activities or support groups, and practicing vulnerability to deepen emotional bonds.

Setting Goals and Aspirations

What goals and aspirations do you hope for? Setting goals and aspirations can enhance an individual's sense of purpose. This involves identifying both short-term and long-term aspirations, creating action plans to achieve these goals, and regularly reviewing and adjusting them as necessary. Sometimes a simple plan on a 1pg of lined paper is all you need to feel a sense of rest on the topic. You can also buy a recorder cheaply and record your goals and thoughts that you can playback as needed.

Engaging in Creative Expression

Engaging in creative expression is another effective technique that can provide a sense of accomplishment and meaning. This may involve encouraging artistic pursuits such as painting, writing, or music, participating in workshops or classes to learn new skills, and using creativity as a form of self-exploration and expression.

Feel Warmth and a Sense of Thriving with Existential Therapy

With an open mind and heart, Rachel Strauch, MHCI Counseling Psychotherapist, will do her very maximum to be by your side as a fellow traveler along your journey. Rachel is supported by a licensed existential-humanist counseling supervisor, a licensed serious mental illness psychologist supervisor, and Rachel's Existential-Humanist Institute consultation group participation, a part of her existential process as a therapist. Rachel is an avid researcher, and self-motivated for constant continuing education. She has six years of experience in psychotherapy including in uniform and as a civilian, challenging life transitions due to serious medical illnesses, major depression, death, bereavement, psychosis and reduced intellectual functioning, and a history of applying existential and brief psychodynamic approaches to optimal human performance and life transition support for high performing individuals in the special operations military community.

Operational SafeLink offers something unique that isn't focused on managing your thoughts and feelings but rather on celebrating what you feel and think are the meaningful parts of them, and help you thrive on your own terms despite your situation.

Whether you are a seasoned professional adjusting to retirement, a resilient individual coping with a chronic illness, or a courageous soul navigating unforeseen challenges, Operation SafeLink is committed to supporting you on your journey towards healing and self-discovery. Through a blend of compassionate care, clinical expertise, and a holistic approach to therapy, the practice strives to empower older adults and all adults, to embrace their unique narratives, find resilience in the face of adversity, and cultivate a sense of agency in shaping their own futures.

If you are seeking a safe and inclusive space to explore existential themes, process life-altering experiences, and uncover new possibilities for growth and transformation, Operation SafeLink stands ready to accompany you on this profound and meaningful journey. Contact rachel.safelink@therapysecure.com to learn more about our services and begin your path towards healing and wholeness.