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Irvin D. Yalom
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Existential Psychotherapy Hardcover – December 8, 1980

by Irvin D. Yalom (Author)
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The definitive account of existential psychotherapy.
 
First published in 1980, Existential Psychotherapy is widely considered to be the foundational text in its field— the first to offer a methodology for helping patients to develop more adaptive responses to life’s core existential dilemmas. In this seminal work, American psychiatrist Irvin Yalom finds the essence of existential psychotherapy and gives it a coherent structure, synthesizing its historical background, core tenets, and usefulness to the practice.
 
Organized around what Yalom identifies as the four "ultimate concerns of life"—death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness—the book takes up the meaning of each existential concern and the type of conflict that springs from our confrontation with each. He shows how these concerns are manifest in personality and psychopathology, and how treatment can be helped by our knowledge of them.
 
Drawing from clinical experience, empirical research, philosophy, and great literature, Yalom provides an intellectual home base for those psychotherapists who have sensed the incompatibility of orthodox theories with their own clinical experience, and opens new doors for empirical research. The fundamental concerns of therapy and the central issues of human existence are woven together here as never before, with intellectual and clinical results that have surprised and enlightened generations of readers.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    544 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Basic Books
  4. Publication date
    December 8, 1980
  5. Dimensions
    6.55 x 2.1 x 9.6 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0465021476
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0465021475
  8. Lexile measure
    1280L
  9. See all details
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From the Publisher

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Yalom Yalom Yalom Yalom Yalom Yalom
The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy The Yalom Reader Love's Executioner Becoming Myself Creatures of a Day Inpatient Group Psychotherapy
Customer Reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
560
4.7 out of 5 stars
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4.6 out of 5 stars
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4.6 out of 5 stars
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Price $67.50 $23.84 $12.55 $13.49 $13.79 $54.00
Explore the works of Irvin D. Yalom In this completely updated sixth edition, Dr. Yalom and Dr. Leszcz draw on a decade of new research on group psychotherapy as well as their broad clinical wisdom and expertise. Readers of Dr. Yalom's clinical texts will be intrigued by the fictional entries; general readers will gain a greater understanding of and appreciation for the practice of psychotherapy. An “utterly absorbing” collection of ten classic tales from the therapist’s chair by renowned psychiatrist and best-selling author Irvin D. Yalom (Newsday). Bestselling writer and psychotherapist Irvin D. Yalom puts himself on the couch in a “candid, insightful” (Abraham Verghese) memoir. A radically honest statement about the difficulties of human life, but also a celebration of some of the finest fruits — love, family, friendship — it can offer. This essential book for front-line clinicians offers new ways of conceptualizing the techniques of group therapy for use on acute wards.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I believe this excellent book will become a classic for those studying existential psychotherapy and indeed for all clinicians. But it would be a mistake to relegate it to psychiatrists and psychologists alone-any person interested in what makes people act as they do will find help here. I found it so readable that I could scarcely put it down."―Rollo May

"This remarkable treatise explores psychotherapy in the context of its relevance to the major problems of human existence. The product of extensive clinical experience, evaluated and integrated by a sensitive, well-informed and powerful mind, it is an impressive achievement. The style is eloquent, lucid and enlivened by flashes of wit."―Jerome D. Frank

"Professor Yalom's book is one of the irreducible classics of psychotherapy-wise, sensitive, scholarly, and beautifully written-not least in his gentle humor with psychiatric and philosophical emperors who have no clothes on."―Alex Comfort

"Once again Irvin Yalom has produced a volume of great meaning and timeliness. He has crystallized the essence of existential psychotherapy. With numerous clinical illustrations and a thorough review of the literature, he has constructed a volume on conflicts which flow from the individual's confrontations with certain ultimate concerns: death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness. This book should be read by every psychiatry resident and every clinical psychology inter. It belongs in the library of every psychotherapist."―H. Keith H. Brodie

About the Author

Irvin D. Yalom, MD, is professor emeritus of psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He was the recipient of the 1974 Edward Strecker Award and the 1979 Foundations' Fund Prize in Psychiatry. He is the author of When Nietzsche Wept (winner of the 1993 Commonwealth Club gold medal for fiction); Love's Executioner, a memoir; Becoming Myself, a group therapy novel; The Schopenhauer Cure; and the classic textbooks Inpatient Group Psychotherapy and Existential Psychotherapy, among many other books. He lives in Palo Alto, California.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books; 1st edition (December 8, 1980)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 544 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0465021476
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0465021475
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1280L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.72 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.55 x 2.1 x 9.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:

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Irvin D. Yalom

Irvin D. Yalom

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Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University. Author of nonfiction psychiatry texts, novels, and books of stories. Currently in private practice of psychiatry in Palo Alto and San Francisco, California.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
458 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Classical Fan
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting and Well-Written
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2024
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This is a very interesting and well-written book that discusses philosophy as well as psychology, while also providing numerous vignettes from actual cases, that demonstrate the implementation of the author's ideas. Highly recommended.
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Sophia Bezirganian
5.0 out of 5 stars Most Illuminating Psych Book I've Read
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2006
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As a psychiatrist, I have yet to read a more illuminating book on how mental illnesses can develop, and how to help patients' to become free of them.
Existential Psychotherapy presents a theory of the existential forces that drive all human beings--knowledge of death, of our aloneness in the world, and of "meaninglessness" (the utter inconsequence of our one life in the entirety of the universe). It shows how these forces are powerful influences in shaping human mental health and illness.
Other reviewers here point out that the basic existential issues Yalom presents are well-known to academics and to many literate people who are exposed to them in that good, broad, liberal arts education we (still?) get in college. But what Yalom achieves in this book, has not to my knowledge been accomplished before (nor since): a presentation of these ideas to an audience of clinicians in a lucid, beautifully written, way that is salient to the daily practice of psychotherapy.
Yalom is a rare psychiatrist who is not only a master of the art of teaching and practicing psychiatry, but for this book, ventured into philosophy, literature, history, and sociology, and then integrated the wisdom each brings to the study of human nature, into a clear and cohesive whole, a beautifully written theory of the existential dimension of men's fears, drives, and actions, and how this dimension creates mental illness or health, depending on how each person handles it.
What is amazing is how such a book is now buried in the archives of (relative) obscurity, while others, recycling the same old tired ideas, reign on.
So what do these lofty insights in Yalom's book contribute that is unique and powerful to us lowly practitioners toiling daily in our offices in the (seemingly more banal) task of helping patients with daily crises, complaints, resistance to change, and painful repetitions of self-destructive life choices?
One very important tool: a true understanding of the power of existential concerns, not only in creating mental illness and self-destructive life paths, but, by shining a light on them-- capturing that elusive force of change: MOTIVATION. This force, and how to harness it to help patients overcome their suffering, has for me been one of my greatest challenges as a doctor. And one for which most books on psychotherapy have fallen short in helping me tackle.
In the sections "death" and "will", (two of the four main sections in the book), Yalom forges a path that I could follow, to help my patients free themselves of the fears that block motivation for change. In short, Yalom shows how the anxiety about, (and thus avoidance of) awareness of our death and aloneness, can cripple us into denial, and resistance to changing those of our behaviors that shield us from these truths. But, these very fears, when faced and reframed--as the awareness of one's finite limits, and of the freedom that comes along with one's aloneness, become extremely potent engines for change. Other peoples' judgements, and fear of failure, lead us to believe that the human "judges" are the most important threat in our lives. But in Yalom's world, these feared judgements pale in comparison to the the consequences of inaction. When we live with acute awareness that we waste our only life when we are beholden to judges who are after all, mortal and alone just like us, this can shake us up to MOVE and LIVE, in this finite life, in a way other insights cannot.
This example of how avoidance of existential fears leads to anxiety, low self-worth, and depression, is but one vignette in this book. Yalom applies his theory to the gamut of mental illness, and includes discussion of how narcissism, perversions, obssessions, masochism, sadism, ...the list goes on, are fueled by existential concerns. Yalom argues that they all boil down to one of two main strategies we humans employ to "forget" Death, Aloneness, and Meaninglessness: Either we escape too much into the protective cover of the GROUP, and become mindless group robots who drone through life until illness, or loss forces us to suddenly face our mortality, at which point many of us panic, or become depressed, OR, we get sucked into this defiant delusion : "I am SPECIAL"...smarter, more rebellious, unfettered by the social conventions of meek men, thus free of death's jaws". This reaction then can lead to reckless, impulsive, pseudo "powerful" behaviors that are often the fuel of many "acting out" mental problems: addiction, sociopathy, sadism, and narcissism.
Enough of my words-read and feel the power of Yalom's words in this great book.
179 people found this helpful
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Searching the Stars
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Work on the Dynamics of the Human Condition
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2013
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Irvin Yalom, Professor Emeritus at Standford in psychiatry, has written a masterful book on the human condition (published in 1980).

"Existential Psychotherapy" is singularly one of the best books I have ever read. Why? Yalom has combined 1) his intellectual insights in psychology with 2) his practical observations in therapy with 3) existential thought. He seeks to show that much of the anxiety we face as human beings, and seek comfort for in psychotherapy (or religion), originates from the existential facts of being a mortal, free being. He focuses on four main areas:

death (our inner structure will go to nothing),
freedom (we are forced to make momentous decisions without full information),
isolation (we are alone in many fundamental ways) and
meaninglessness (we don't have a clear picture of what it really means).

From literature, psychology, philosophy and some theology (Tillich), Yalom has created a definitive text on what it means to open our eyes fully to our existential situation. It is not a depressive text, as the goal is to come to terms with our condition. And ironically, facing the truth of death, for example, makes life richer. This is much more than a self-help book, it is a philosophical-psychological masterpiece.

I have a Ph.D. in the philosophy of religion and have published several articles in leading journals and don't give out the kind of praise I am giving here easily. It is one of the best books I have ever read, and I think a wide range of people would profit from it. Yet it's a difficult book, not an easy self-help read. But Yalom is such a clear writer that most readers could follow it. When he uses technical psychological or philosophical terms, he usually explains them. Otherwise, the dictionary must be used.

This text would be helpful for people in the helping professions in giving an existential aspect to their work. Religious thinkers and those interested in philosophy should pick it up at any cost. Any educated person could profit from it greatly. It's a long text, and I had to break it up by carefully reading some from each of the main four parts simultaneously to get a view of the whole. It's a bit dry at times, but thoughtful, perceptive, educational in many fields, --it's ....wisdom literature....I can't think of a higher compliment.
24 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Milad
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read book for everyone!
Reviewed in Canada on January 24, 2024
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An essential read for those seeking purpose, personal development, and growth in life. Although crafted with young psychotherapists in mind, this book is accessible to a broader audience, written in clear language enriched with numerous examples. It provides a profound exploration of the fundamental drives that underlie human psychology.
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Sam
3.0 out of 5 stars Good book but Small font!
Reviewed in the Netherlands on October 18, 2023
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The fonts are too small!
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Mountain Panther Cat
5.0 out of 5 stars From an Irvin Yalom fan
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2023
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Still relevant and valid. I haven't read a single book from Irvin Yalom that I haven't liked...
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Andreas Grögler
5.0 out of 5 stars ein Muss für jeden Interessierten
Reviewed in Germany on September 22, 2015
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Ein faszinierendes und umfasssendes Werk, das über die normalen Bücher zum Thema Psychotherapie hinaus geht. Irvin Yalom ist auch schriftstellerisch versiert, weshalb sein Buch sich wie ein Roman liest, jedoch trotzdem wie ein Lehrbuch verwendet werden kann.
Das Buch ist sehr zu empfehlen, weil es Aspekte der therapeutischen Praxis aufzeigt, die man sonst selten findet. Die Beispiele geben eine Idee von der Anwendung der Theorie.
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous.
Reviewed in Australia on May 8, 2016
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A terrific book. Well worth the read.
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