Existential therapy: what the research says

Small studies suggest meaning-focused sessions may help people feel life has more meaning. Evidence for low mood and worry is limited.

What a session is

A talking therapy that explores life's big questions, such as meaning, choice, freedom and loss, starting from how you experience your own life.

What the research says

• Sense of meaning and purpose: A review of 15 small trials found meaning-focused therapies helped people feel life had more meaning, mostly people living with serious physical illness. Limited evidence · Vos, Craig & Cooper, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2015
• Low mood: Meaning-focused sessions eased low mood and anxiety somewhat in small, low-quality studies. Other existential types showed no clear effect. Limited evidence · Vos, Craig & Cooper, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2015 · Wissenschaftlicher Beirat Psychotherapie (German statutory advisory board, BÄK/BPtK), 2017
• Worry and anxiety: The same small studies measured anxiety and low mood together and found modest benefits. For lasting anxiety, UK guidance recommends CBT or applied relaxation. Limited evidence · Vos, Craig & Cooper, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2015 · NICE, 2020
• Stress, sleep, pain, menopause and grief: Not studied for these in the sources we use. The NHS suggests talking to a counsellor about grief. No good evidence yet · NHS, 2026

More on each need: Lift your mood · Feel calmer · Handle stress better

Is it safe?

Talking about loss and life's hardest questions can be upsetting at first; tell your therapist. If you have bipolar disorder, psychosis, an eating disorder or a personality disorder, talk to your GP first. Choose a therapist on a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. NHS, 2025 · NHS, 2025

Sessions on Sissoo complement medical care and never replace it. Please don’t stop or change any treatment without talking to your doctor. If you feel very low or think about ending your life, call your local emergency number now.

Checked 22 October 2026. Next check by April 2027. How we rate the evidence.