Existential-Humanistic Case Formulation CE Workshop

Until recently, there has not been a comprehensive, structured approach to existential-humanistic (EH) case formulation and treatment planning. This has been a limitation for training and research on EH therapy. This workshop provides an overview of Hoffman and Cleare-Hoffman’s (2025) approach to EH case formulation. The workshop begins by providing an overview of case formulation, including EH critiques of case formulation. The approach to EH case formulation in this workshop attempts to address these critiques while providing a fluid, phenomenologically-based approach to case formulation. Next, the workshop go through the four primary aspects of EH case formulation: 1) holistic narrative, 2) concern/problem identification, 3) theoretical aspects of EH case formulation, and 4) treatment planning. The holistic narrative emphasizes who the client is beyond their presenting problems or concerns, and it serves as a framework to maintain a holist view of the client. The concern/problem identification section provides ways to integrate mainstream approaches to concern/problem identification with an EH approach. The theoretical aspects of case formulation also integrate generalist aspects of case formulation with EH specific aspects, including the here-and-now, the existential gives, and the daimonic, amongst others. Finally, the treatment planning section integrates a generalist approach (i.e., treatment goals, integrative interventions) with EH approaches (client narratives of how they would like life to be, client goals, EH interventions). In addressing EH interventions, the workshop discusses research that categorizes the different EH interventions. A brief overview of these interventions is discussed. Last, the workshop discusses how to align EH therapy with evidence-based practice and use case formulation to guide the treatment progress.

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