Existential Perspectives on Supervision: Widening the Horizon of Psychotherapy and Counselling

by Emmy Van Deurzen, Sarah Young

Written for trainees and supervisors of all theoretical orientations, this book provides a model of supervision based on basic philosophical principles. The chapters explore a myriad of human issues and show how to prioritise ethical, social and cultural aspects of therapy whilst rekindling the capacity for careful scrutiny and self-reflection.

232 pages, Paperback

First published August 18, 2009

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

[Louis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. It was good, but I was still left a bit disappointed. I hoped to use it as a text book when teaching supervision courses in the US; however, the contributors, for the most part, referred to a perspective on supervision that evidenced it was more appropriate in Britain then the US, at least for those who are first learning the supervision process. There are important legal differences that impact the way language is used and practical issues. As the contributors and editors are from Britain, this really reflects more of a failure on the part of the publishers. At the least, it would of been helpful to have a US introduction that spoke to these issues to provide some orientation to US issues. Ironically, the one chapter that seemed to show awareness of this was chapter 15, the second to last chapter. The book can be very helpful for more advanced supervisors in the US who will be able to pick up on these differences.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some chapters better than others. Overall a good read, with some interesting thoughts on applying existential theory (albeit from a more British perspective) to supervision. Recognizes nicely the dangers of a one size fits all supervision or therapy but also provides a solid structure of how to be in a supervisory relationship.