Julie Thomas
Counsellor and Psychotherapist
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How I Work
Existential therapy is grounded in the belief that psychological distress often arises when we feel disconnected from meaning, unsure of who we are, or overwhelmed by life’s uncertainties. Instead of focusing on symptoms alone, existential therapy explores how you relate to your existence as a whole.
The work is centred on:
Understanding your lived experience
Exploring personal values and meaning
Examining choice, responsibility, and freedom
Making sense of anxiety, loss, and uncertainty
Existential therapy does not impose interpretations or solutions. Instead, it supports you in discovering your own understanding of what matters most in your life.
A Brief History of Existential Therapy
Existential therapy has its roots in philosophy and psychology, drawing on the ideas of thinkers such as Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, and Jean-Paul Sartre. These philosophers explored themes such as meaning, freedom, responsibility, and the human condition.
In the mid-20th century, existential ideas were integrated into psychotherapy by practitioners including Viktor Frankl, Rollo May, Irvin Yalom, and Emmy van Deurzen. Their work shaped existential therapy into a therapeutic approach focused on lived experience rather than diagnosis or technique.
Today, existential therapy is widely practised in the UK and internationally, often within an integrative framework.
Who Can Existential Therapy Help?
Existential therapy may be helpful if you are experiencing:
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Loss of meaning or purpose
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Life transitions or major decisions
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Relationship difficulties
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Spiritual or existential distress
Many people are drawn to existential therapy when they feel that their concerns are deeper than symptoms alone and want space to explore their experience more fully.
Key Principles of Existential Therapy
Meaning
and Purpose
Many people seek therapy when life feels empty, confusing, or lacking direction. Existential therapy explores how meaning is created and experienced, particularly during times of crisis or change.
Freedom and Responsibility
Existential therapy recognises that while we are shaped by circumstances, we also have the capacity to make choices. Exploring responsibility can feel unsettling, but it often leads to greater authenticity and agency.
Identity and Self-Understanding
Questions such as Who am I? or Why do I feel disconnected from myself? are central to existential therapy, especially during life transitions or periods of self-doubt.
Anxiety and Uncertainty
Rather than attempting to eliminate anxiety, existential therapy helps you understand its role in your life and how it relates to uncertainty, change, and possibility.
Relationship and Isolation
Existential therapy explores how we relate to others and to ourselves, including feelings of loneliness, disconnection, or difficulty with intimacy.
Online Existential Therapy in the UK
I offer online existential therapy across the UK, providing flexible and confidential support from the comfort of your own space. Online sessions can be particularly helpful if you prefer privacy, flexibility, or are unable to attend in-person therapy.
Sessions are conducted in a calm, reflective manner and tailored to your pace and needs. You do not need to have clear goals or the “right words” to begin — the work unfolds collaboratively over time.
What Happens in Existential Therapy Sessions?
Existential therapy sessions provide a space to:
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Talk openly about what feels troubling or uncertain
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Explore thoughts, feelings, and experiences
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Reflect on values, choices, and meaning
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Develop greater self-understanding and clarity
The focus is not on diagnosis or quick fixes, but on developing a deeper relationship with yourself and your experience.
Working With Me
I am an experienced existential psychotherapist offering online therapy to adults across the UK. My work is grounded in ethical practice, respect, and collaboration. I aim to provide a safe and thoughtful space where you can explore your concerns without judgement or pressure.
Take the Next Step
If you’re considering existential therapy and would like to explore whether it feels right for you, you’re welcome to get in touch.
About Therapy
What is Existential Therapy?
Existential therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the fundamental questions of human existence — meaning, identity, freedom, responsibility, isolation, and mortality. Rather than viewing distress as a disorder to be fixed, existential therapy understands emotional difficulties as part of the human experience and our attempts to make sense of life.
This therapeutic approach offers a reflective and collaborative space to explore how you experience your life, your relationships, and your choices, particularly during periods of uncertainty, anxiety, or transition.