Paradox and Passion in Psychotherapy

Emmy van Deurzenis a Philosopher, Counselling Psychologist, and Existential Psychotherapist. She founded the School of Psychotherapy and Counselling at Regent's College, UK, the Society for Existential Analysis, and the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling, of which she continues to be Principal. She lectures worldwide and is currently Visiting Professor at Middlesex University, UK. She was the first chair of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy, and was instrumental in establishing the existential approach in the UK and Europe. Her books include Existential Psychotherapy and Counselling in Practice (3rd edition, 2012), Psychotherapy and the Quest for Happiness (2008), and Everyday Mysteries (2nd edition, 2010).

About the Author ix Preface to the Second Edition x Preface to the First Edition xii Acknowledgements xv Introduction 1 Section 1 Paradox 15 Introduction: The Central Role of Paradox in Human Existence 15 1 Ontological Insecurity Revisited: Self ]confidence Versus Anxiety 23 2 Courting Death: Life in the Balance 37 3 The Survival of the Self: Identity, Freedom and Disintegration 58 4 Intimacy and Love: Closeness and Distance Between Self and Other 69 5 Alienation and Adaptation: Being a Stranger in a Foreign Land 77 Section 2 Passion 87 Introduction: the Central Role of Passion in Human Existence 87 6 A Passion for Life: Rediscovering the Intensity of Living 95 7 Truth as a Touchstone: Reality and Meaning as the Bedrock of Living 106 8 Hard ]earned Lessons: a Therapist's own Journey to Self ]understanding 121 9 Letting the Client's Life Touch Yours: the Art of Resonance and Presence 143 10 The Moral Compass: How Can Counselling and Therapy Help? 158 Section 3 Existential Psychotherapy 173 Introduction: A New Way of Working 173 11 Widening Horizons: Universal Dimensions of the Human Dilemma 177 12 What is Existential Analysis? Sketch for an Existential Approach 189 13 Philosophy as Therapy: The Ultimate Goal of our Work 200 14 A New Challenge: Towards Transcendence 208 Section 4 Illustrations of Existential Work 223 Introduction: What We Can Learn From Practice 223 15 Marie ]Louise: Letting Go of the Past in Order to Reclaim it 227 16 Vicky: Learning to Be More by Being Less 233 17 Peter: Finding Oneself in Spite of Psychotherapy 241 18 Jerry: Transcending Trauma 251 Conclusions 263 References 266 Index 273