Final answer:
An existential therapist may view a client who talks vaguely and is persistently unhappy as struggling with inauthenticity and avoiding self-examination. This perspective emphasizes personal responsibility and growth, aligning with the goal of achieving a more authentic and fulfilled existence.
Step-by-step explanation:
An existential therapist might see a client who speaks vaguely about life and voices long-term dissatisfaction without making changes as potentially experiencing inauthenticity or a failure to take responsibility for their choices. Such a therapeutic view suggests that the client is not fully engaging in their own existence or shaping their life proactively. In existential therapy, the individual's subjective perception of reality is considered paramount, and the client's vagueness and complaints might be seen as an avoidance of self-examination and personal growth.
Existential therapists focus on helping clients confront their intrinsic freedom to choose their path and accept the consequences of their actions. It is through this process that individuals can create a more authentic life aligned with their true self. The reference to becoming 'healthy' from Freud's perspective parallels the existential goal of moving toward a more fulfilled and authentic existence, and overcoming psychological challenges that may have been present since childhood.