Exploring Existential Well-being Counseling with Prof Mia Leijssen
About Prof Mia Leijssen
Prof Mia Leijssen, hailing from Belgium, is a renowned figure in the field of psychotherapy. With a career spanning over four decades, she has made significant contributions to the Person-centered, Experiential, and Existential approaches. Her expertise and experience have earned her a reputation as a leading authority in the field.
A Journey in Psychotherapy
Prof Mia Leijssen's journey in psychotherapy began in 1976 when she first embarked on her career as a Person-centered, Experiential, and Existential psychotherapist. Since then, she has dedicated her life to helping individuals navigate their inner worlds and find meaning in their experiences.
A Focusing Teacher and Coordinator
In addition to her work as a psychotherapist, Prof Mia Leijssen has also been a Focusing Teacher and Coordinator since 1984. Focusing is a therapeutic technique that helps individuals access their inner wisdom and explore their emotions and sensations in a gentle and compassionate way. As a Focusing Teacher, Prof Mia Leijssen has empowered countless individuals to connect with their inner selves and find clarity and insight.
An Academic Journey
Prof Mia Leijssen's passion for psychotherapy extends beyond clinical practice. She is a Professor (Emeritus) in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy at the University of Leuven, Belgium. Her academic role allows her to share her knowledge and expertise with the next generation of therapists and researchers.
Existential Well-being Counseling
One of Prof Mia Leijssen's notable contributions is her work as the Academic Director of the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Existential Well-being Counseling. This course offers a Person-centered, Experiential approach to counseling, focusing on helping individuals find meaning and purpose in their lives.
A Person-centered Experiential Approach
Prof Mia Leijssen's approach to counseling is rooted in the Person-centered and Experiential traditions. She believes in the power of the therapeutic relationship and places great emphasis on creating a safe and supportive environment for her clients. By fostering a genuine and empathetic connection, she helps individuals explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
Embracing Existentialism
Existentialism is a philosophical framework that explores the fundamental questions of human existence, such as the meaning of life, freedom, and responsibility. Prof Mia Leijssen incorporates existential concepts into her therapeutic work, encouraging individuals to confront these existential concerns and find their own unique answers.
Benefits of Existential Well-being Counseling
Existential Well-being Counseling offers a holistic approach to mental health and well-being. By focusing on the individual's subjective experience and their search for meaning, this approach can help individuals gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world.
Some of the key benefits of Existential Well-being Counseling include:
- Increased self-awareness: Through guided exploration, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of their values, beliefs, and motivations.
- Enhanced resilience: By confronting existential concerns, individuals develop the resilience to face life's challenges and setbacks.
- Improved decision-making: Existential Well-being Counseling helps individuals clarify their values and priorities, leading to more informed and meaningful decision-making.
- Greater sense of purpose: By exploring their existential concerns, individuals can find a sense of purpose and direction in their lives.
- Improved relationships: By fostering self-awareness and understanding, Existential Well-being Counseling can enhance interpersonal relationships and communication.
Conclusion
Prof Mia Leijssen's contributions to the field of psychotherapy, particularly in the realms of Person-centered, Experiential, and Existential approaches, have had a profound impact on the lives of many individuals. Through her work as a therapist, teacher, and academic, she has helped countless individuals find meaning, purpose, and well-being. The Existential Well-being Counseling course she oversees continues to empower individuals to explore their inner worlds and live more fulfilling lives.
After UCLA College of Letters where I obtained PhD is Philosophy, Psychology and Religion I got a teaching job at the University. I felt uneasy teaching. I applied for a job in the mental health field; I got many offers and within two years was running the mental health center where I worked, supervising psychologists and psychiatrists who have been in that field for many decades.
Eventually, I felt bored by the job (of been executive director...I was barely thirty two years old when I was the executive director of the largest mental health agency in the city where I lived) and quit and tried doing other things.
Nothing I tried worked out for me. So, I did other executive director jobs but eventually wound up quitting and returning to college teaching until I felt that teaching is too easy for me; I felt unchallenged being a college professor (I filled my time writing on assorted subjects that interested me).
Eventually, I realized that I have a destiny and fate. My normal routine is to read until I go to sleep (although there is a huge TV in the house, I seldom watch it) and get up around 5 AM, think for a while, and then go to my computer and type the thoughts that I just had in my sleep.