Practising Existential Therapy: The Relational World

by Ernesto Spinelli

Drawn from the author's experience as an internationally-recognised theorist, lecturer and practitioner, this practical book elucidates the notoriously difficult and distinctly different therapeutic approach, existential therapy. Balancing theory and practice, the book provides trainees with an accessible introduction to the author's own three phase structural model for existential therapy, one which has become widely established and used in training and practice.

Substantially revised and updated throughout, Part One examines the philosophical underpinnings, essential theory and distinctive features of existential therapy while Part Two goes on to present the author′s structural model for practice. Both parts are now prefaced by useful schematic overviews which introduce the content and pinpoint key themes in each chapter, helping readers to navigate the text with ease. Practical exercises encourage further engagement with the text and the themes, issues and practices under consideration.

Seen by existential therapists across the world as one of the most influential books on the topic, this new edition is an essential read for all those training, practising or interested in existential therapy.

Genres: Psychology, Counselling, Philosophy

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Γιώργος Γεωργόπουλος · Rating 5 out of 5]

Βασική πρόταση του Spinelli είναι η όσο το δυνατόν άκριτη και ανερμήνευτη περιγραφή της κοσμοθεώρησης του θεραπευόμενου (από τον ίδιο το θεραπευόμενο) μέσα από το πρίσμα των τριών βασικών αρχών της υπαρξιακής ψυχοθεραπείας, του σχετίζεσθαι, της αβεβαιότητας και του υπαρξιακού άγχους. Αυτή και μόνο η περιγραφή αποτελεί πολλές φορές το μονοπάτι της αλλαγής. Χωρίς εγγυημένα αποτελέσματα για την κατεύθυνση αυτής της αλλαγής. Μας παροτρύνει να αναλάβουμε το άχθος της ύπαρξης αναλαμβάνοντας ταυτόχρονα και το εκάστοτε τίμημα. Είναι λοιπόν ένα εγχειρίδιο-πρόταση διεύρυνσης των πεδίων και των τρόπων αυτής της περιγραφής.

[Gediminas Tumėnas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Helped me a lot in my work as a practicing student of existential psychotherapy. Would recommend to every practicing therapist.

[L.J. Cherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spinelli is genius in the way he can take deep, complex topics and describe them so easily and poetically.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found parts of this book hard going, especially section 1, but it is worth the effort. I intend to read it again at some point as I think I understood perhaps 40%. I was very taken by his notion of un-knowing.