Skills in Existential Counselling \u0026 Psychotherapy by Emmy Van Deurzen

Skills in Existential Counselling \u0026 Psychotherapy Reviews

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  JY Tan

  Incredibly engaging text for therapists aspiring to adopt a more existentially informed approach. Theoretically profound and also rich in application. While the main points begin to repeat themselves later, there's always nuggets of wisdom that equips readers with alternative ways of understanding clinical practice. Can not praise this book enough.
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  IAO131

  A very simple book by Van Deurzen on the basics of Existential Psychotherapy. Van Deurzen takes a more " British" approach to Existential Psychology, which more heavily emphasizes the (mostly European) philosophical roots of Existentialism. American Existential psychology, on the other hand, tends to focus on the immediate, the practical, and have more sensitivity to notions like "presence" (which is notably absent from this particular book, and notably central in certain other Existential psychologists' formulations of the field, including Irvin Yalom and Kirk Schneider). Overall, a very easy-to-read intro to how Existential Psychologists think and work, with some interesting suggestions - unfortunately it remains very much superficial (ironically, for Existentialists) o na great deal of topics, sometimes treating entire topics (e.g. door-handle comments) in a mere fraction of a single page. Undoubtedly these topics are not particularly relevant to the general overview of this book, and they are expanded more in Van Deurzen's other works.
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  MizzSandie

  This book started out so good, but as I read on I just lost my interest almost page by page. I was excited about the introduction, curious in the first couple of chapters and after that it just got harder and harder for me to get through it, and near the end I was just skimming the pages wanting it t be over with,
  I think one of the main reasons for my growing disinterest was that it seemed to become rather repetitive.
  And i also realise that even if I think the existential angle certainly contributes in important ways to the field of therapy and psychology, I don't feel like it does well standing all on its own, as a sole perspective.
  
  I liked the setup of the book though with the little exercises and examples throughout.
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  Kelly Rathgeber

  A very fascinating read for any aspiring therapist. Explores the meaning of life, phenomenology and ontology. I purchased this book with a basic understanding of what it means to "do" existential therapy, and was delighted to read that there is no one way, technique or approach that one "does" but rather a way of "being". A foundational text for practicing existential therapy in my opinion!
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  Michael Sanchez

  Snippets of this text come to mind when I’m in therapy! Very helpful and I honestly love anything Emmy writes or speaks about. I find her way of seeing the world resonate deeply with my way of being-in-the-world. 4 rather than 5 stars because I wish to have more detail re: the phenomenological method. That said, I’ll be tackling Husserl next!
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  Μαρία

  "Το να ζει κανείς μ' επίγνωση και αναστοχασμό είναι ο καλύτερος τρόπος για να γίνει ένας καλός υπαρξιακός ψυχοθεραπευτής.