Existential–Humanistic Therapy
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Existential–humanistic therapy melds European existential philosophy — which values self-inquiry, struggle, and responsibility — with the American tradition of spontaneity, optimism, and practicality.
In this updated edition of their popular book, Kirk Schneider and Orah Krug demonstrate how this unique approach can help clients free themselves from self-imposed limitations and develop a deeper understanding of their authentic life goals by cultivating skills such as experiential reflection.
Schneider and Krug explore existential–humanistic therapy's theoretical and historical underpinnings, its empirical foundations, the therapeutic process and mechanisms of change, as well as future developments. Detailed case examples vividly illustrate the work of existential–humanistic therapy, highlighting key takeaways that are equally accessible and valuable to graduate students and veteran practitioners.
New to this revised edition is an increased focus on a more integrative perspective, which makes existential–humanistic therapy applicable to a wider array of settings and diagnostic populations. This flexibility also makes it more adaptable to other therapeutic approaches and expands its influence on clinical psychology as a whole.
How to use the Theories of Psychotherapy Series® in combination with APA Videos
Series Preface
How to Use This Book With APA Psychotherapy Videos
- Introduction
- History
- Theory
- Therapy Process
- Evaluation
- Future Developments
- Summary
- Appendix A. Short-Term Case 2: Hamilton
- Appendix B. Phases of Change in a Typical Long-Term Existential Therapy
- Appendix C. Long-Term Case 2: Claudia
- Appendix D. Summary of Experiential Stances of the Existential–Integrative Model
Glossary of Key Terms
Suggested Readings and Resources
References
Index
About the Authors
About the Series Editors
Kirk J. Schneider, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and leading spokesperson for contemporary existential–humanistic psychology.
Dr. Schneider is past president (2015–2016) of APA Division 32 (Society for Humanistic Psychology); past editor of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology (2005–2012); president-elect of the Existential–Humanistic Institute; and adjunct faculty at Saybrook University and Teachers College, Columbia University.
A Fellow of APA, Dr. Schneider has published more than 100 articles and chapters and has authored or edited 11 books (several of which have been translated into Chinese, German, Greek, Russian, Turkish, and Portuguese). These books include The Paradoxical Self, Horror and the Holy, The Psychology of Existence (with Rollo May), The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology (2nd ed., with Fraser Pierson and James Bugental), Rediscovery of Awe, Existential–Integrative Psychotherapy, Existential–Humanistic Therapy (with Orah Krug; an accompanying APA video is available), Humanity's Dark Side: Evil, Destructive Experience, and Psychotherapy (with Art Bohart, Barbara Held, and Ed Mendelowitz), Awakening to Awe, The Polarized Mind, and Supervision Essentials for Existential–Humanistic Therapy (with Orah Krug). The Wiley World Handbook of Existential Therapy (with Emmy van Deurzen et al.) and The Spirituality of Awe: Challenges to the Robotic Revolution are in preparation.
Dr. Schneider is the recipient of the Rollo May Award from APA Division 32 for "outstanding and independent pursuit of new frontiers in humanistic psychology"; the Cultural Innovator award from The Living Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a psychotherapy training center that bases its diploma on Schneider's existential–integrative model of therapy; and an honorary diploma/membership from the Society for Existential Analysis of the United Kingdom and the East European Association of Existential Therapy.
He is also a founding member of the Existential–Humanistic Institute in San Francisco, which in August 2012 launched one of the first certificate programs in existential–humanistic practice to be offered in the United States.
In April 2010, Dr. Schneider delivered the opening keynote address at the First International (East–West) Existential Psychology Conference in Nanjing, China, and has repeatedly been invited to speak at similar venues in China and Japan over the past several years. He delivered a keynote address at the first World Congress for Existential Therapy in London in May 2015.
For further information about Dr. Schneider, visit his website.
Orah T. Krug, PhD, is a licensed psychotherapist with a private practice in Oakland, California. She is the clinical training director of the Existential–Humanistic Institute of San Francisco and teaches at Saybrook Graduate School.
Dr. Krug received her doctorate from Saybrook Graduate School, where she was awarded the Rollo May Scholarship for an essay comparing the theoretical approaches of her two mentors, James Bugental and Irvin Yalom. She has produced two videos, Conversations With Jim and "Joe": A Demonstration of the Consultation Process, with James Bugental.
Her current research focuses on the relationship between the cultivation of intra- and interpersonal presence and the contextual factors of therapy associated with therapeutic change. Her article in the Journal of Humanistic Psychotherapy, "James Bugental and Irvin Yalom: Two Masters of Existential Therapy Cultivate Presence in the Therapeutic Encounter", began an exploration of this research.
Provides a clear, concise, and comprehensive overview of the primary American approach to therapy in the existentialist tradition. The introduction, history, and theory sections provide a basic overview that situates this tradition of therapy in a body of work that emerged in the early 1960s, and that has developed into an integrationist orientation that, while founded on existential and humanistic principles, has the theoretical openness and flexibility to incorporate a wide range of empirically based techniques within its applications to therapeutic practice.
—PsycCRITIQUES
Schneider and Krug are renowned scholars and practitioners of existential–humanistic therapy. Not only does this volume clearly explain the theory and practice of existential–humanistic therapy, it is also a clear example of psychotherapy integration at its best.
—George Stricker, PhD
Professor, American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Arlington, VA
- Existential–Humanistic Therapy Over Time
In this video, Dr. Kirk J. Schneider demonstrates this distinctly American expression of existential therapy.
