Emmy van Deurzen – författare

Central to the book is the belief that many of our problems arise out of the essential paradoxes of human existence, rather than from personal pathology. From this perspective, the purpose of counselling and therapy is not viewed as problem-solving, but as a mean of enabling people to come to terms with living life as it is, with all its inherent contradictions.

Emmy van Deurzen, a leading existential philosopher and therapist, presents a practical method of working, using systematic observation, clarification and reflection to help clients rediscover their inner strengths. She shows how personal assumptions, values and talents, once acknowledged, can be turned to constructive use. Using wide-ranging case examples, the author also demonstrates the effectiveness of the existential appoach in many different situations - from crisis work to dealing with chronic unhappiness.

The existential approach is a well-respected form of psychotherapy, but most writing on the subject tends to be heavily theoretical. This book offers a practical and accessible alternative, which will be invaluable to those in training as well as to more experienced practitioners.

This is the definitive practical introduction to a skills-based approach in existential therapy. Accessible for those without a philosophical background, it describes the concrete and tangible skills, tasks and interactions of existential practice. It covers the theoretical background and history of existential therapy, along with taking a phenomenological approach to practice and individual clients.

This second edition has been thoroughly updated to reflect recent thinking, and expanded to include:

* A new chapter on the applications of existential therapy in wider contexts, such as supervision and coaching.

* A new chapter covering professional issues and challenges, such as working in the NHS, engaging with research and the use of the Internet in existential therapy.

* A companion website which includes video content, featuring the authors explaining each chapter’s underpinning theory, and demonstrating the principles in practice.

A much needed resource for trainees as well as experienced practitioners keen to expand their knowledge, the authors make the existential approach accessible to all those who wish to find out what it has to offer.

Therapy Today, May 2009

"A vibrant, passionate, and hugely readable text which goes to the heart of the therapeutic project: how to help clients lead fuller and more meaningful lives" - Mick Cooper, Professor of Counselling at University of Strathclyde

The unspoken yearning that brings people to therapy is often that of a desperate desire for happiness. Should therapists ignore this desire, interpret it or challenge it? And what does our preoccupation with happiness tell us about contemporary culture and the role of the therapist?

In this book, Emmy van Deurzen addresses the taboo subject of the moral role of psychotherapists and counsellors. Asking when and why we decided that the aim of life is to be happy, she poses searching questions about the meaning of life. Psychotherap y and the Quest for Happiness seeks to define what a good life consists of and how therapists might help their clients to live well rather than just in search of happiness.

This text makes stimulating reading for all trainee and practising counsellors and psychotherapists, especially those interested in the existential approach.

Emmy van Deurzen is Co-Director of the Centre for the Study of Conflict and Reconciliation, and honorary Professor at the School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield

Therapy Today, May 2009

"A vibrant, passionate, and hugely readable text which goes to the heart of the therapeutic project: how to help clients lead fuller and more meaningful lives" - Mick Cooper, Professor of Counselling at University of Strathclyde

The unspoken yearning that brings people to therapy is often that of a desperate desire for happiness. Should therapists ignore this desire, interpret it or challenge it? And what does our preoccupation with happiness tell us about contemporary culture and the role of the therapist?

In this book, Emmy van Deurzen addresses the taboo subject of the moral role of psychotherapists and counsellors. Asking when and why we decided that the aim of life is to be happy, she poses searching questions about the meaning of life. Psychotherap y and the Quest for Happiness seeks to define what a good life consists of and how therapists might help their clients to live well rather than just in search of happiness.

This text makes stimulating reading for all trainee and practising counsellors and psychotherapists, especially those interested in the existential approach.

Emmy van Deurzen is Co-Director of the Centre for the Study of Conflict and Reconciliation, and honorary Professor at the School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield

(cross-referenced throughout), the book is the ideal companion to studying the the ideas of existential pioneers, such as Kierkegaard, Heidegger and Sartre.

Drawing on their experience as existential practitioners, Emmy van Deurzen and Raymond Kenward achieve the difficult task of making complex philosophical concepts accessible and practically relevant. Through the use of illustrative quotations and examples, they translate existential terminology into everyday language and show how the ideas are employed in practice. They also examine associated themes such as sexuality and religion and appraise the main strengths, weaknesses and limits of the existential approach.

The Dictionary of Existential Psychotherapy and Counselling will be invaluable to all trainees and practitioners of the existential approach and to all counsellors and psychotherapists who recognise the centrality of philosophical concepts to their practice.

(cross-referenced throughout), the book is the ideal companion to studying the the ideas of existential pioneers, such as Kierkegaard, Heidegger and Sartre.

Drawing on their experience as existential practitioners, Emmy van Deurzen and Raymond Kenward achieve the difficult task of making complex philosophical concepts accessible and practically relevant. Through the use of illustrative quotations and examples, they translate existential terminology into everyday language and show how the ideas are employed in practice. They also examine associated themes such as sexuality and religion and appraise the main strengths, weaknesses and limits of the existential approach.

The Dictionary of Existential Psychotherapy and Counselling will be invaluable to all trainees and practitioners of the existential approach and to all counsellors and psychotherapists who recognise the centrality of philosophical concepts to their practice.

In Existential Therapy: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions, the authors address those questions most frequently asked by potential clients of existential therapy or by people beginning their training or by those interested in counselling or psychotherapy.

The book is divided into five parts, with each focusing on responding to questions about different elements of existential theory and its practice and applications:

The Q&A format, presented in accessible language, emphasises commonly unknown or misunderstood areas that are typically overlooked.

The book will appeal to a wide audience of potential clients and trainees, practitioners from other approaches, and those outside of the profession who are curious to understand more about existential therapy.

In Existential Therapy: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions, the authors address those questions most frequently asked by potential clients of existential therapy or by people beginning their training or by those interested in counselling or psychotherapy.

The book is divided into five parts, with each focusing on responding to questions about different elements of existential theory and its practice and applications:

The Q&A format, presented in accessible language, emphasises commonly unknown or misunderstood areas that are typically overlooked.

The book will appeal to a wide audience of potential clients and trainees, practitioners from other approaches, and those outside of the profession who are curious to understand more about existential therapy.

Structural Existential Analysis (SEA) is a qualitative research method which uses an existential-phenomenological framework that has been developed through decades of therapeutic and research practice. This book describes the method of SEA and how to apply it to qualitative research.

The book starts with a detailed description of the existential underpinnings of SEA, drawing on a range of phenomenologists, to demonstrate the need for a phenomenology of interiority. The method is described in full, explaining the use of a specific form of self-reflection (SOAR) and of the Existential Research Dialogue. The second part focuses on the analysis of the research data. A full description is given of each of the filters, in terms of their origin, their meaning and of the specific ways in which they are applied. The text is enlivened by ample examples demonstrating how the filters can be used and how the analysis can draw out different aspects of human experience throughout the process.

The book will be essential reading, for all those involved in education, training or research in existential therapies, clinical psychology and counselling psychology.

Structural Existential Analysis (SEA) is a qualitative research method which uses an existential-phenomenological framework that has been developed through decades of therapeutic and research practice. This book describes the method of SEA and how to apply it to qualitative research.

The book starts with a detailed description of the existential underpinnings of SEA, drawing on a range of phenomenologists, to demonstrate the need for a phenomenology of interiority. The method is described in full, explaining the use of a specific form of self-reflection (SOAR) and of the Existential Research Dialogue. The second part focuses on the analysis of the research data. A full description is given of each of the filters, in terms of their origin, their meaning and of the specific ways in which they are applied. The text is enlivened by ample examples demonstrating how the filters can be used and how the analysis can draw out different aspects of human experience throughout the process.

The book will be essential reading, for all those involved in education, training or research in existential therapies, clinical psychology and counselling psychology.