Counseling for chronic, existential depression

Those with existential depression experience a chronic sense of emptiness and futility. In addition to the typical symptoms of depression, there is an overarching sense of despair with the emptiness of life.
People with existential depression often report: 

• Feeling stuck on a treadmill, or in the movie “Groundhog Day” – living the same day again and again. Occasional victories and mountain-top experiences are only a fleeting reprieve from the monotony.
• Being disinterested and quickly bored by superficial conversation.
• Being called cynical, “a drag,” pessimistic, or “a downer"
• Not having a clear goal or course in life worth striving for. Most things seem like just a waste of time.
• Seeing so-called “coping skills” as just a band-aid and a distraction from the deeper problem.
• Staying at home most days, feeling lethargic and just trying to pass the time.
• Feeling apathetic about the future and even considering suicide.

Existential depression can be precipitated by a time of crisis such as grief and loss, life changes, or loss of identity. It also tends to occur in intellectual, introverted people, particularly when navigating young adulthood.

I wrote my Master’s thesis on Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy, and have a special interest in working with those with existential depression using this approach.