History of Existential Psychology

Zoltán Kőváry, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, litterateur, linguist and expert in existential counseling. He is an associate professor at Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary. His main research interests are in the history and theory of existential psychology and depth psychologies, eco-psychology, the psychology of creativity and psychobiographical research. He is an author of more than 70 articles, author and editor/coeditor of seven books and an editor of the journal Imago Budapest. As well as running his own private practice in Budapest as an existential therapist, he is the leader of a rock band and interested in ornithology.

“This unique book invites the reader to reflect upon basic questions in life through a concise, easily read and captivating presentation of the major existential approaches to everyday life. Zoltán Kőváry provides us with a remarkably intelligent, comprehensive and novel synthesis of an increasingly significant field of psychology. This introductory text tackles the big questions in life: Who am I? Which genuine possibilities do we have? How can we develop authentic relationships with other people? A thrilling contribution and ideal reading for students and researchers, as well as for practitioners.”Tamás Fazekas, MD, PhD, Daseinsanalyst, coauthor of The Renaissance of Daseinsanalysis, cofounder of the Hungarian and American Daseinsanalytic Institutes“Kőváry's rich contribution gives a comprehensive account of the historical evolution of existential thought, culminating in its widening role in contemporary psychology and psychotherapy. The book is a goldmine for scholars and practitioners alike.”Robert D. Stolorow, Founding Faculty, Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles, California and author of Trauma and Human Existence“The product of decades of research, Zoltán Kőváry’s work brilliantly explores every major thinker in existential psychology since the time of Kierkegaard to the present. Nothing like this book has ever been published before. A masterpiece of concision and depth.”Robert Kramer, Visiting Professor of Public Leadership, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary and coeditor of The Letters of Sigmund Freud and Otto Rank: Inside Psychoanalysis“Real in-depth investigation brings up the roots of existential psychotherapy as well as its development and diversification in the practical application in an international context. A real source to learn from the beginnings to the ongoing application in both: in togetherness and differentiation of the movement. Illuminating.”Alfried Längle, International Society for Existential Analysis and Logotherapy, University of Klagenfurt and Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, Austria“This two-volume set introducing existential psychology to a new generation of students, professors and practitioners could not be more welcome. The field of existential psychology is sorely lacking in such an in-depth history and survey of present applications, and this two-volume set more than fills the gap. What impresses me most about this work is that Kőváry has cast his net both wide and deep and has a keen sense for the most timely existential themes that impact today's theory, practice and research. If you want to have a robust grasp of existential psychology's basic concerns and their contexts today, I could not recommend a more suitable resource.”Kirk J. Schneider, PhD, President of the Existential-Humanistic Institute and Adjunct Faculty, Saybrook University; author of Existential-Humanistic Therapy (with Orah Krug), The Polarized Mind and Life-Enhancing Anxiety: Key to a Sane World“This book is an invitation to a wide ranging and in-depth journey through the international history of existential psychology and psychotherapy. It draws deeply on the intricate roots of existential understanding and points the way forward toward greater human flourishing.”Prof Emmy van Deurzen, Founder of the Existential Academy and the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling, and the author of numerous books and other texts, translated into over 30 languages

• 1. Psychology and ExistentialismPart 1. Historical Grounding of Existential Psychology2. Philosophy: Ontology and Philosophical Anthropology3. The Contribution of 19th- to 20th-Century Lebensphilosophie, Theology and Far-East Philosophy4. Philosophy: Epistemology5. Literary Roots of Existential Psychology6. The Psychological-Psychiatric Antecedents and Parallels of Existential Psychology: Psychoanalysis7. Friends of the Family: The Contributions of Neo-Analytic Authors and Humanistic Psychoanalysts8. Bridges between Psychoanalysis and Existential-Humanistic Psychology9. Phenomenological Psychiatry, Anthropological Trends and Geisteswissenschaftlich PsychologyPart 2. The Schools of Existential Psychology10. Daseinsanalysis11. Logotherapy and Existential Analysis12. The Existential-Humanistic School of Psychology13. The Existential-Phenomenological School of Psychology14. Leopold Szondi’s Fate Analysis: The Lost “Existential-Anancological” School of Psychology