Short course
Existential Therapies: An Introduction
Course status:
Course ended
Location:
Online
Dates:
13/01/2026 - 24/03/2026
Study format:
Online - live
Fees:
£360.00
What is Existential Therapy? In what ways might it help people shed light on the meaning and purpose of their unique existence? What challenges does it pose to other forms of therapy? How can you include an existential understanding in your therapeutic practice or just use it to enable you yourself to gain a better understanding of your ways of seeing and being in the world?
This is a 10-week introduction to the theory and practice of Existential Therapy which assumes no previous knowledge or experience. Three integrated strands run through the programme: understanding theory, developing skills and improving self-awareness.
Theory will examine Existential Therapy's key theoretical assumptions across its varied evolution and development as well as considering the implications such ideas may have for a therapeutic or self-development practice.
Developing Skills will examine Existential Therapy's core themes, principles and practices specifically providing a grounding in some key existential interventions from the various schools of existential theory and practice. Students will be encouraged to use their own experience, but will not be expected to discuss painful personal issues.
Through the theory and the skills practice, students will be encouraged to reflect on their personal learning in order to gain self-awareness.
This course will enable participants to bring key Existential theory and skills to bear in either their clinical practice or general self-development. It provides a foundation rather than comprehensive training in Existential Therapy, as well as offering an opportunity for students to discover whether or not they want to progress to more advanced Existential training.
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Programme details
This course begins on the 13 Jan 2026 which is when course materials are made available to students. Students should study these materials in advance of the first live meeting which will be held on 20 Jan 2026, 4:30-5:30pm (UK time).
Week 1: On Being Perplexed
Week 2: Key themes and principles 1
Week 3: Key themes and principles 2
Week 4: Â Experiencing and Existence Themes
Week 5: From Theory to Practice
Week  6: Meaning Centred Therapies
Week 7: Existential Humanistic Therapies Part One
Week 8: Existential Humanistic Therapies Part Two
Week 9: Existential Phenomenological Therapy – Van Deurzen
Week 10: Existential Phenomenological Therapy – Spinelli
Level and demands
This course is open to all and no prior knowledge is required.
This course is offered at FHEQ Level 4 (i.e. first year undergraduate level), and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments and for the weekly webinar. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class. Our 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours, including those spent in live webinars.
English Language Requirements
We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements please follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/english-language-requirements
Course aims
This course is an introduction to Existential Therapy. It is aimed at either enabling experienced practitioners to learn how to integrate Existential theory and skills into an existing clinical practice or as a self-standing opportunity for people wanting to know about the discipline out of general interest or for self development purposes. It may also act as a staging post for further training. No previous knowledge or experience is required.
Course Objectives:
- To develop a greater understanding of what an Existential approach to therapy looks like and the psychological and philosophical ideas which can inform its practice.
- To develop a greater understanding of and ability to use some key existential methods in practice.
- To gain in self awareness.
IT requirements
Any standard web browser can be used to access course materials on our virtual learning environment, but we recommend Google Chrome. We also recommend that students join the live webinars on Microsoft Teams using a laptop or desktop computer rather than a phone or tablet due to the limited functionality of the app on these devices.
Programme details
This course begins on the 13 Jan 2026 which is when course materials are made available to students. Students should study these materials in advance of the first live meeting which will be held on 20 Jan 2026, 4:30-5:30pm (UK time).
Week 1: On Being Perplexed
Week 2: Key themes and principles 1
Week 3: Key themes and principles 2
Week 4: Â Experiencing and Existence Themes
Week 5: From Theory to Practice
Week  6: Meaning Centred Therapies
Week 7: Existential Humanistic Therapies Part One
Week 8: Existential Humanistic Therapies Part Two
Week 9: Existential Phenomenological Therapy – Van Deurzen
Week 10: Existential Phenomenological Therapy – Spinelli
Teaching methods
This course takes place over 10 weeks, with a weekly learning schedule and weekly live webinar held on Microsoft Teams. Shortly before a course commences, students are provided with access to an online virtual learning environment, which houses the course content, including video lectures, complemented by readings or other study materials. Working through these materials over the course of the week will prepare students for a weekly 1-hour live webinar you will share with your expert tutor and fellow students. All courses are structured to amount to 100 study hours, so that on average, you should set aside 10 hours a week for study. Although the course finishes after 10 weeks, all learning materials remain available to all students for 12 months after the course has finished.
All courses are led by an expert tutor. Tutors guide students through the course materials as part of the live interactions during the weekly webinars. Tutors will also provide individualised feedback on your assignments. All online courses are taught in small student cohorts so that you and your peers will form a mutually supportive and vibrant learning community for the duration of the course. You will learn from your fellow students as well as from your tutor, and they will learn from you.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will be expected to:
- have gained a greater understanding of Existential Therapy;
- have developed ideas about how to incorporate Existential theory and skills into their own therapeutic or self development practice;
-
have increased self awareness.
If they have completed the course including the assignment, students should be well placed to apply for further training in Existential Therapy.
Assessment methods
You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.
Damian White
Mr Damian White Damian is an accredited Existential, Cognitive Behavioural and Relational Life Psychotherapist with a background in international humanitarian work, domestic social work and university lecturing.
Assessment methods
You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.
Level and demands
This course is open to all and no prior knowledge is required.
This course is offered at FHEQ Level 4 (i.e. first year undergraduate level), and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments and for the weekly webinar. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class. Our 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours, including those spent in live webinars.
English Language Requirements
We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements please follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/english-language-requirements
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course Fee | £360.00 |
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