Existential Therapy: Distinctive Features offers an introduction to what is distinctive about this increasingly popular method. Written by two practicing existential psychotherapists, with many years’ experience, it provides an accessible, bitesize overview of this increasingly used psychological therapy. Using the popular Distinctive Features format, this book describes 15 theoretical features and 15 practical techniques of Existential Therapy.
Existential Therapy will be a valuable source for for psychotherapists, clinical, health and counselling psychologists, counsellors, psychiatrists, and all who wish to know more about the existential approach.
Table of Contents:
Contents
Introduction i
List of abbreviations ii
List of figures and tables iii
Part 1 THE DISTINCTIVE THEORETICAL FEATURES OF EXISTENTIAL THERAPY
1 A philosophical rather than a psychological approach to therapy
2 Existential philosophy offers an understanding of what it is like to be human
3 Creating a broader perspective on the wide context of Being-in-the-world
4 Recognising the way in which we relate to Others
5 The effect Time and Temporality have on our existence
6 Intentionality: Understanding the intentional nature of our actions and reactions
7 Focusing on freedom, choice and responsibility
8 Death, Anxiety and Angst
9 Existential Guilt
10 Paradox and the tension of existence
11 Notion of the dynamic Self
12 Authenticity and Inauthenticity
13 Finding purpose and meaning: the original project
14 Values and human worth
15 A well lived life
Part 2 THE DISTINCTIVE PRACTICAL FEATURES OF EXISTENTIAL THERAPY
16 Developing a phenomenological attitude
17 The quality of the therapeutic relationship: I-Thou
18 A descriptive exploration
19 Taking stock and being aware of the limitations of life
20 Getting the bigger picture: Four dimensions of existence
21 Living in the world physically
22 Living in the world socially
23 Living in the world personally
24 Living in the world spiritually
25 The emotional world of the client
26 Embodiment
27 Examining the paradoxes of life
28 Revisiting values and beliefs
29 Making meaning and discovering purpose
30 Finding freedom
References
Index
