Центральная идея книги состоит в том, что многие наши проблемы возникают не вследствие патологии личности, а как результат сущностных парадоксов человеческого существования. С этой точки зрения, цель консультирования и психотерапии состоит не в решении проблем, а в том, чтобы дать людям возможность прийти к соглашению со своей жизнью, такой, как она есть, во всех присущих ей противоречиях. Приводя собственные систематические наблюдения, уточнения и размышления, Эмми Ван Дорцен, ведущий экзистенциальный философ и психотерапевт, представляет практический метод работы, позволяющий помочь клиентам вновь открыть в себе внутренние силы. Она демонстрирует, как можно обратить на пользу клиента его распознанные предположения, ценности и таланты. Обращаясь к многочисленным примерам, автор показывает эффективность экзистенциального подхода в широком разнообразии случаев: и при кризисах, и в случаях хронического несчастья.
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
A slightly more systematic approach to existential therapy than Yalom's "Existential Psychotherapy", which is the one I read first. This one throws a few more pie charts and tables into the mix as well as introducing the four additional dimensions of human existence: physical, social, personal and spiritual. All of these can be measured against Yalom's four primary concerns: death, loneliness, freedom and meaninglessness. For such a potentially dense subject, the book is concise and straight to the point. Yalom is more philosophically inclined and spends much more time referencing and exploring the philosophical ideas behind existential therapy, from the Stoics to the existentialists. While these roots are also mentioned in this volume, the primary focus is still on practical application of such philosophical insights onto real life patients. Very interesting read and the 3rd edition also contains a nice further reading section.
I'm not a therapist, but I've been considering going back to school to become one. This book paired well with the existential philosophy I was reading around the same time, and applying existential principles and ideas to therapy is a very interesting idea. I particularly liked the ideas of emotions being related to values and assumptions, which was helpful for me to understand in my own journey with therapy. I'm glad I happened upon this book randomly in a used English bookstore in Korea.
A treasure trove for aspiring counsellors and those curious about the philosophy and practical application of existentialism. Van Deurzen writes incredibly well in a down-to-earth but not dumbed down way and I will reread this one many times, I have no doubt.
A good read on existential psychotherapy. Its main asset for me is its practical connotations, since there is not much bibliography in the field with an emphasis on applied existential psychotherapy. At times though I found it unnecessarily loquacious and repetitive.
This is fantastically well written. Even if you don't have a background in philosophy you will be able to grasp the philosophical themes since they are applied to situations we can all relate to.