Assume that you are an existential counselor. Read and think about Kyle and Glenda in their struggles with freedom. Imagine each of them coming to you for counseling. You only know as much about them as is written below. How would you proceed in your work with each person?

 

 

How would you work with Kyle?

Kyle, a 30 year-old gay man, is feeling extremely stressed as he contemplates whether or not to come out to his parents. He feels comfortable with his sexuality and receives much support from his friends in the LGBT community, however, he is unsure how his parents will take this news. He wonders, "In order to feel fulfilled in life, do I need my parents' approval and acceptance? What if they reject me because of their religious convictions? Would I be able to handle that?

 

How would you work with Glenda?

Glenda becomes painfully aware that she has perfected the art of manipulating men with her physical appearance. She says the appropriate things, she has an abundance of men in her life, all of her contacts with people are superficial, and she accepts in herself that she has not pursued any depth because she has apparently gotten what she wanted with such little effort. But now she suffers as she comes to grips with her own vacancy and superficiality. The issues of freedom with which she might well wrestle as a result of her dawning awareness could be reflected in questions such as: "Am I tired enough of being plastic that I will risk finding out whether I'm real or not? Since my style has worked so well in the past, will I really change now? What if I pursue depth in a relationship only to find emptiness? What if I am really empty inside? What if all I am is a pretty exterior? Will I be better off deluding myself that a fine exterior is really better than the experience of nothingness? How do I begin to change? Can I allow myself to hurt, or will I retreat into old ways to repress my pain?"