What does it mean to be a self?
In this episode of The Existential Lens, psychotherapist Evan Kaufman explores the evolving nature of identity—how who we are is not a fixed object to uncover, but an ongoing process we enact moment by moment.

Drawing on existential therapy, phenomenology, and enactivist psychology, Evan examines why our sense of self shifts across contexts, why we contain multiple “selves,” and how our identities take shape through relationships, meaning, and lived experience. Listeners are invited to consider the subtle moments in everyday life that open into the deeper mystery of being: a glance at an old photograph, a quiet morning routine, or a surprising feeling of misalignment with the life we’ve built.

This episode is for anyone curious about identity, authenticity, and the inner complexity that brings people into therapy. It speaks to clients, clinicians, and anyone drawn to existential-humanistic perspectives on what it means to live a more honest, grounded, and meaningful life.

Topics explored:

• Identity as a dynamic, living process
• The myth of a “true” fixed self
• Existential anxiety and the freedom to change
• Multiplicity and the many selves we carry
• How relationships shape who we become
• Moments that reveal the mystery of being
• The role of existential-humanistic therapy in identity formation

If you’re interested in existential psychology, depth-oriented therapy, or the inner work of becoming more fully yourself, this episode offers a grounding, reflective space to explore these questions more deeply.

This episode is part of The Existential Lens, hosted by psychotherapist Evan Kaufman.

For more reflections on therapy, existence, and the human experience, visit https://evankaufman.org