Introduction
Mental wellness is multifaceted as it encompasses an interplay of thoughts, emotions, and social interactions. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is among the many approaches that can be used to counter psychological disorders and associated mental problems. The philosophy of existentialism emphasizes the idea that humans are free and can choose who they want to become. A combination of CBT and existentialism can be effective when dealing with mental health issues in a multicultural context. An in-depth understanding and application of the Christian perspective that all people are made in the image of God can further enhance the effectiveness of CBT in combination with existentialism.
Mental Health and Mental Healthcare Approaches
Psychological well-being is central to a person’s routine interactions and effective daily activities. Mental health involves emotional wellness, stable psychological, and effective social interactions (Corey, 2021, p.34). Therefore, an individual’s mental health determines how they think, act, feel, relate with others, and make healthy choices. Meanwhile, mental healthcare involves various techniques and treatment options to address psychological disorders. The use of medications and psychotherapy is the main approach utilized in treating mental problems. The choice of a particular approach to mental disease depends on patients’ needs and desired medical outcomes.
Theoretical Approaches to Mental Healthcare
CBT and Existentialism in Mental Healthcare
CBT and existentialism are common approaches to mental healthcare, but they differ in terms of key principles and application. Unlike existentialism, the main principle of CBT is to identify negative thought patterns and change them (Beara, 2015, p.181). The latter is premised on the assertion that changing one’s negative thoughts to positive ones can ultimately improve one’s feelings and behaviors (Tan, 2021, p. 434). For instance, individuals who have post-traumatic stress disorder are encouraged to make positive meanings out of their past awful experiences. Therefore, CBT can be better described as a goal-oriented, practical approach to mental wellness.
Existentialism, on the other hand, can be distinguished from CBT in terms of its premise and applicability. The approach involves subjective techniques that emphasize freedom, choice, and responsibility in overcoming mental illness (Crum, 2019, p. 243). Existential therapists insist on personal responsibility and its importance in overcoming psychological disorders. Consequently, unlike CBT, the approach allows patients to explore their values and the meaning of life to address psychological issues (Corey, 2021, p. 494). Although CBT and existentialism are distinct, they can be integrated into a holistic counseling approach.
The 4Hs of Mental Health from the CBT-Existentialist Approach
Application of CBT and existentialist theories in the context of mental wellness can be understood through the 4 H’s: humanity, health, hindrance, and help. As noted earlier, CBT and existentialism can be combined for effective counseling outcomes. Humanity is associated with an individual’s innate desire for meaning, purpose, and connection in life. Consequently, people tend to get involved in activities that provide positive meaning to their lives and to those with whom they interact. A CBT-existential approach, therefore, views mental healthcare as a means of achieving the desired purpose in life (David et al., 2005, p.179). Therapists combine the two approaches to help their clients overcome negative thought patterns that are harmful to one’s freedom and can lead to bad health choices.
Health, in the context of mental wellness, involves the absence of diseases and infirmity. From the CBT-existentialist perspective, health can be viewed as a dynamic process of growth that allows an individual to manage their emotions and social interactions. CBT is focused on negating harmful thoughts that can be associated with activities that are detrimental to one’s health (Tan, 2021, p.456).
Meanwhile, existentialism allows the patients to understand the effects of such harmful activities on their main purpose in life and moral standing (Crum, 2019, p.249). Hindrances to mental health are other significant elements that can be viewed from the CBT-existentialist perspective. Distorted beliefs, poor coping mechanisms, and past traumatic experiences hinder one from developing positive thoughts and remaining focused on their purpose in life.
Help is the last strand of the 4 H’s of mental health and can be well viewed from the CBT-existentialist approach. While CBT emphasizes helping patients overcome negative thoughts, existentialism is concerned with personal responsibility (Corey, 2021, p.492). Consequently, a combination of the two approaches empowers individuals with positive thoughts and the ability to embrace responsibility for the choices they make (Tan, 2021, p.321). Self-awareness, sense of purpose, and resilience are some of the interventions that CBT-existentialist therapists try to evoke from their clients. Therefore, humanity, health, hindrances, and help are important factors when determining the application of a holistic psychological approach that involves CBT and existentialism.
Theological Ideas on the CBT-Existentialist Model
A counseling model that combines CBT and existential can be informed by a theological perspective. Christian teachings on human personality and mental health are anchored on the belief that people are made in the image of God (Beara, 2015, p.180). Therefore, through their bodies, God’s plans and purposes can be actualized (Tan, 2021, p.322).
The Christian perspective augments the idea that each individual has inherent worth and intrinsic value, making them unique. CBT-existentialist counselors, thus, adopt interventions that are characterized by compassion, respect, and non-discrimination (David et al., 2005, p. 181). For instance, traumatic events are viewed as one of the many ways that God makes individuals realize the meaning of life.
CBT-existentialist model approaches are consistent with theological backing on human personality and mental healthcare. The approach is holistic in the sense that therapists are not just focused on treatment outcomes but on all aspects that shape their patients’ wellness (Tan, 2021, p. 327). Physical, emotional, social, and spiritual interconnectedness mechanisms are often applied by this model. For example, patients are encouraged to take part in physical exercise, social activities, and spiritual events that encourage and give them hope in life amidst the mental health challenges they face. The approach is consistent with the Christian belief that humans are made in the Image of God and should be involved in activities that enhance their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Christian teachings on mental health are consistent with the CBT-existentialist model. Following the teachings of Genesis 1:27, humans manifest God through their spiritual and intellectual understanding (Settimo, 2023, p. 14). Therefore, negative and immoral thoughts, which are detrimental to mental health, are avoided.
Similarly, the CBT-existentialist model focuses on eliminating such negative thoughts for one’s mental wellness. The application of Christian values of hope and forgiveness further helps in forgetting past trauma and making peace with those involved. Therefore, CBT-existentialism is a holistic mental healthcare approach that is in tandem with the Christian doctrine that humans are made in the image of God.
Mental Health in a Multicultural Context
The CBT-existentialist approach has positive implications for prevention, consultation, advocacy, education, and cultural understanding of mental healthcare in a multicultural context. The model involves the application of resilient mechanisms that foster self-awareness in a diverse cultural setting (Corey, 2021, p.38). Consequently, risk factors associated with a patient’s community are identified to prevent undesired behaviors that encumber mental wellness. Meanwhile, for the interventions, the model can include cognitive restructuring and positive behavioral activation (Crum, 2019, p.245). The latter can positively impact the mechanisms used to intervene in undesired behaviors, as they focus more on patients’ needs than on obvious treatment outcomes.
Consultation services are of the essence for individuals who are seeking mental healthcare. A CBT-existentialist model promotes collaborative consultation services for patients’ benefit. Counselors often engage social and cultural experts to identify a patient’s specific needs. Consequently, clients’ diverse needs are addressed through a team-based approach regardless of their cultural identity (Crum, 2019, p. 245). Meanwhile, cultural considerations can be helpful when negative social interactions contribute to a person’s mental health problems. Therefore, collaborative consultation and cultural considerations are central to the CBT-existentialist model.
Education and advocacy are other elements of the CBT-existentialist model that make it significant in a multicultural context. Often, existentialist therapists educate their patients about the important steps to take to prevent mental illness (Tan, 2021, p. 460). Although such education can take place during sit-in sessions, patients can be encouraged to seek external sources, such as websites that advocate for mental wellness (Corey, 2021, p. 39). Successful treatment can encourage patients to refer others, advocating for CBT and existentialism. Therefore, the model encourages patients’ education while positively impacting mental health advocacy activities.
Conclusion
The CBT-existentialist model is an effective, holistic approach to countering mental health issues. The model combines the interventions used in CBT and existentialism for desired psychological healthcare outcomes. From a Christian perspective, human beings are created in the image of God. The CBT-existentialist model is consistent with Christian ideologies since it focuses on overall mental wellness and not a particular treatment outcome. The model is significant in countering mental illnesses in a multicultural context.
References
Beara, V. (2015). The contribution of REBT in addressing the givens of existence. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 33(2), 179–197.
Corey, G. (2021). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Crum, J. E. (2019). A clinical strategy to strengthen the connection between cognition, emotion, and behavior: From philosophical principles to psychotherapy practice. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 37(3), 241–250.
David, D., Szentagotai, A., Eva, K., & Macavei, B. (2005). A synopsis of rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT); fundamental and applied research. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 23(3), 175–221.
Settimo, L. (2023). Hans Jonas’s reflections on the human soul and the notion of Imago Dei: An explanation of their role in ethics and some possible historical influences on their development. History of European Ideas, 49(5), 1–15.
Tan, S.-Y. (2021). Counseling and psychotherapy: A Christian perspective (2nd ed.). Baker Academic.