Skills in Existential Counselling & Psychotherapy

by Emmy Van Deurzen, Martin Adams

This is the definitive practical introduction to a skills-based approach in existential therapy. Accessible for those without a philosophical background, it describes the concrete and tangible skills, tasks and interactions of existential practice. It covers the theoretical background and history of existential therapy, along with taking a phenomenological approach to practice and individual clients. This second edition has been thoroughly updated to reflect recent thinking, and expanded to * A new chapter on the applications of existential therapy in wider contexts, such as supervision and coaching. * A new chapter covering professional issues and challenges, such as working in the NHS, engaging with research and the use of the Internet in existential therapy. * A companion website which includes video content, featuring the authors explaining each chapter’s underpinning theory, and demonstrating the principles in practice. A much needed resource for trainees as well as experienced practitioners keen to expand their knowledge, the authors make the existential approach accessible to all those who wish to find out what it has to offer.

Genres: Psychology, Counselling, Philosophy

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Emmy van Deurzen (born 13 December 1951 in The Hague, Netherlands) is an existential therapist and honorary Professor at the University of Sheffield.

After moving to the UK in 1977 to work with anti-psychiatrists, she founded the Society for Existential Analysis in 1988, and later created a London-based training institute for the Lapproach at Regent's College in 1985, before leaving to found The New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling in 1996 at Schiller International University. In 2010 The New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling became independent and is now situated in South Hampstead, London.

Her therapy work is based in existential philosophy, as a form of philosophical counseling, and focuses on enabling people to reflect on their lives with equal attention to past, present and future in order to draw on their strengths, talents and abilities, whilst facing up to the limitations of life.
- Wikipedia

Reviews

[JY Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly engaging text for therapists aspiring to adopt a more existentially informed approach. Theoretically profound and also rich in application. While the main points begin to repeat themselves later, there's always nuggets of wisdom that equips readers with alternative ways of understanding clinical practice. Can not praise this book enough.

[IAO131 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very simple book by Van Deurzen on the basics of Existential Psychotherapy. Van Deurzen takes a more " British" approach to Existential Psychology, which more heavily emphasizes the (mostly European) philosophical roots of Existentialism. American Existential psychology, on the other hand, tends to focus on the immediate, the practical, and have more sensitivity to notions like "presence" (which is notably absent from this particular book, and notably central in certain other Existential psychologists' formulations of the field, including Irvin Yalom and Kirk Schneider). Overall, a very easy-to-read intro to how Existential Psychologists think and work, with some interesting suggestions - unfortunately it remains very much superficial (ironically, for Existentialists) o na great deal of topics, sometimes treating entire topics (e.g. door-handle comments) in a mere fraction of a single page. Undoubtedly these topics are not particularly relevant to the general overview of this book, and they are expanded more in Van Deurzen's other works.

[MizzSandie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out so good, but as I read on I just lost my interest almost page by page. I was excited about the introduction, curious in the first couple of chapters and after that it just got harder and harder for me to get through it, and near the end I was just skimming the pages wanting it t be over with,
I think one of the main reasons for my growing disinterest was that it seemed to become rather repetitive.
And i also realise that even if I think the existential angle certainly contributes in important ways to the field of therapy and psychology, I don't feel like it does well standing all on its own, as a sole perspective.

I liked the setup of the book though with the little exercises and examples throughout.

[Kelly McKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fascinating read for any aspiring therapist. Explores the meaning of life, phenomenology and ontology. I purchased this book with a basic understanding of what it means to "do" existential therapy, and was delighted to read that there is no one way, technique or approach that one "does" but rather a way of "being". A foundational text for practicing existential therapy in my opinion!

[Michael Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snippets of this text come to mind when I’m in therapy! Very helpful and I honestly love anything Emmy writes or speaks about. I find her way of seeing the world resonate deeply with my way of being-in-the-world. 4 rather than 5 stars because I wish to have more detail re: the phenomenological method. That said, I’ll be tackling Husserl next!

[Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I found the beginning with the philosophical foundations helpful as well as the case conceptualization and practice skills. A lot of the middle of the book felt very repetitive.

[Ghala Anas · Rating 5 out of 5]

مهارات في الإرشاد الوجودي والعلاج النفسي - مارتن آدمز وإيمي فان ديورزنو / ترجمة: د. عبد السلام الأسمري
كتاب جميل ونافع، موجَّه للمعالجين والمُحللين النفسيين، ولكنه ينفع المُتلقين للعلاج كذلك.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

God bog med mange gode spørgsmål, øvelser og refleksioner. Den har en dybde og en tyngde, der gør, at den er lidt tung i starten, men er altid relevant.

[Μαρία · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Το να ζει κανείς μ' επίγνωση και αναστοχασμό είναι ο καλύτερος τρόπος για να γίνει ένας καλός υπαρξιακός ψυχοθεραπευτής.