Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Phenomenological Inquiry in Psychology: Existential and Transpersonal Dimensions
I did not begin reading the book. I purchased it as a gag because the author has the same name as me. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Good Existential Psychology Introduction
Rollo May provides in this book a good introduction to existential psychotherapy.He clearly introduces the central concepts of existentialism and provides wonderful insight into human beings from that perspective.What makes this book especially appealing is the fact that May writes in an incredibly readable manner about sometimes quite obtuse information.I recommend this to anyone interested in learning more about existentialism, existential psychology, and, in particular, existential psychotherapy.

Discovery of Being Review
The book was delivered to me complete and in the condition that it was sold to me in. I would recommend and use this seller for future transactions.

Understanding the foundations of existentialism
I've found Rollo May's treatment of the precursors and pivotal events which led to a recognizable school of philosophy and psychotherapy to be very understandable, readable and engaging. He writes in a style that pulls you intothe philosophical debate and is adept at explaining the various contentions so that a casual reader of these texts can easily understand and follow the debate. It's a great primer that should lead to further readings in existentialism inspired by the bibliographical references!

Golden Ideas, Poor writing
This book definitely had interesting, controversial and new ideas that helped me fine-tune my own thoughts about humanitiy and psychology. There are paragraphs within that are of great value . Nevertheless, this book is poorly written. It lacks idea and paragraph cohesion and often explains new terms and topics loosely and incompletely (which Rollo justifies through the inherent vagueness of the existensial approach). Bottom line: I really didn't mind investing $12, the book's general impact was worth it.

Mediocre at best
Although Rollo May is a celebrated existential author, I found this book to be tedious.Since I was hoping that there would be a good section on the clinical application of existentialism, I was sorely disappointed to find out that there was only 20 pages dedicated to the issue.Not only that, the section did not include any examples of commonly used existential techniques.The section on the history of existential psychology was somewhat interesting.Overall, however, I rate this book mediocre at best. ... Read more

Book Description
Argues that our struggle to become good parents can help us to become good persons. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Inviting us to examine how we each can be a better person
Mufid Hannush meets his aim of illuminating and describing the meaning and essential elements of good and loving parents.With this he helps us also see how to be good and loving persons.I am not a parent, but valued this book in the way it settled me into an awareness of how I can live a more value-focused life moment by moment.

As he says: "Although it offers no 'how to' techniques and strategies for the achievement of good parenting, it holds the conviction that an in-depth description of the theoretical structure of good and loving parenting leads to an understanding that can inspire change in our consciousness and actions."

The first few chapters were difficult to sit with; I wondered what I was learning.I soon realized this was an expression of what is known; I was gaining an increased awareness rather than information/knowledge.While reading Chapter 3 I suddenly sensed I'd internalized the message of the book.I longed to live a good life, to have a 'perfect' character.(A challenge that reminds me of Confucianism.)I was able to hear the message and reflect more fully on its meaning.I encourage those who read it to stay with it.Like a good parent, be patient, sit with the reading and allow yourself to hear it fully without rushing.It is well worth it!

Through his readings, which included themes from Iris Murdoch's moral philosophy, and Harper's character "Atticus" in To Kill a Mockingbird, I have been inspired to read and study these writers also. ... Read more

Book Description
`One can only applaud the bravery of an author who gently send up Kierkegaard's wilful obscurantism and cleans out the acrid smoke of Gauloises from the room. With welcome clarity and sanity, Mick Cooper efficiently lays out the concepts, techniques and directions adopted by several key figures in the broad field of existentially informed psychotherapy. In an excellent first chapter, Mick Cooper pointed out my `ontic' from my `ontological'; and I could see, behind the long-words-with-dashes, the true resonance of these ideas with real human and therapeutic issues, dilemmas and goals' - Clinical Psychology

`This book proves to be a real treasure chest: what you always wanted to know about existential psychotherapy but failed to find anywhere else in such a comprehensive, clear and concise manner. In that sense, this publication provides a missing link. One merit of the book is its systematic structure. As extensive, and in part as heterogeneous as existential philosophy and therapy also maybe, Mick Cooper had nevertheless been able to build convincing clusters with, on the one hand, an enormous understanding of details and, on the other, a far-sightedness that, like a map, provides orientation in the diversity of existential therapy. I really appreciate this publication and can recommend it very strongly' - Person-Centred and Experiential Psychotherapies

`Existential Therapies will I suspect, suddenly make "existentialism" come alive. The author, Mick Cooper loves his subject, it fascinates and enthrals him, and we get to experience some of that, even though the book is "academic". The connections and overlaps with person-centred psychology are there for us to be, but so are the differences' - Person-Centred Practice

`As an overview of a number of different existential therapies the book is extremely welcome and manages in a relatively short space to cover a wide arena. Overall I rate the book highly. To pull together a large and somewhat disparate literature, then make sense of it and finally retains the reader's interest, is difficult' - Existential Analysis

`Mick Cooper has done an impressive job in writing a much needed, current and user friendly survey of the field of existential therapies. If I were to teach this course, I would use this book. I applaud Mick Cooper for having admirably achieved the aim he set out to achieve. All this makes Mick Cooper's book a must-read for anyone wishing to explore the topic of existential therapy' - Society for Laingian Studies Website

`What makes this book unique is that all the different strands of Existential philosophy are always clearly linked to practice' - Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal

`This is a very fresh book, not treading well-worn paths and genuinely informing us about a small but important field. This is really an indispensable book for anyone who wants to understand existentialist approaches to therapy' - Self and Society

`This publication marks a milestone providing an excellent, clear and critical overview of the contrasting forms of the approach as it is currently practised' - Emmy van Deurzen, New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling, Schiller University, London

`This is a book of superb thoroughness and scholarship - an unprecedented guide to existential therapy's chief positions and controversies' - Kirk J Schneider, President of the Existential-Humanistic Institute, USA

`Combines scholarship with a writing style that makes difficult concepts accessible. This book should be required reading on any course where the existential tradition plays a part, and that includes person-centred courses and all sympathetic to the idea that psychotherapy is, in essence, a human encounter where warmth, understanding and a deep respect for the individual are key values' - Tony Merry, University of East London

What does it mean to practice in an existential way? What are the different existential approaches? What are their strengths and limitations? Existential Therapies addresses these key questions, and more, by providing students and practitioners with an invaluable introduction to the diverse and multifaceted world of existential therapeutic practices.

Focusing on practical, face-to-face work with clients, the book:

· introduces readers to six key existential therapies

· discusses key figures and their contributions, including Irvin Yalom, Emmy van Deurzen, Ernesto Spinelli, Viktor Frankl and R D Laing

· compares and contrasts the various approaches,

highlighting areas of commonality and difference

· outlines key debates within the existential therapy field

· provides detailed suggestions for further reading

Existential Therapies offers students and practitioners of all orientations much that they can incorporate into their own therapeutic work, and each approach is vividly brought to life through therapist-client dialogues and case studies. Written in an accessible, warm, and engaging manner, Existential Therapies is an essential introduction to this rich, vibrant and stimulating field. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

excellent review of existential therapies
This is a very through and well thought out review of the current existential therapies. The author sought out current practitioners of each school to give not only a historical perspective, but a view of the current thinking. The book is rich with references. An excellent introduction to existential therapies as they are practices in the United Kingdom, the continent of Europe, and in the United States. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Must have
This is a classic text for anyone who truly wants to gain knowledge into the tradition of the existential humanistic phenomenological tradition of therapy.This is an important exploration on the meaning and relavance that this tradition holds today despite many new "gimmick" therapies coming along over the years. ... Read more

Book Description
This article covers Existential psychology: A system in psychology focused on the belief that the essence of humans is their existence.

The article is excerpted fromGale Encyclopedia of Psychology. This single-volume, accessible resource covers the entire spectrum of psychology, including: notable people, theories and terms; landmark case studies and experiments; applications of psychology in advertising, medicine and sports; and career information. More than 650 articles -- 65% of those are entirely new or updated since the last edition. Each article ranges from 25 to 1,500 words, covering the topics researchers want to know about, including:
Abnormal psychology
Bipolar disorder
Dyslexia
Sigmund Freud
Insomnia
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Unconscious motivation
And hundreds more

In addition to more that 175 photographs, charts and graphs, students will also find a new glossary of over 350 terms, an updated organizations list and an updated and expanded index.

Published/Released: October 2000 ... Read more

Book Description
Existential Psychology and Sport presents a radical alternative to the cognitive-behavioral approaches that currently dominate sport psychology.

The book reveals how an existential perspective, with its focus on larger questions of meaning, choice and responsibility, can be used to help athletes towards career-long personal and performance development. For sport psychologists, this involves going beyond skills training to engage more fully with athletes as individuals, directly supporting them in their search for success and fulfillment through competitive sport. The book covers:

· the characteristics and principles of existential psychology
· phenomenology and research in sport
· the existential-phenomenological approach to anxiety
· existential counseling in sport psychology
· an existential approach to working with elite sports performers
· existentialism, ethics and practice in sportpsychology
· real-life case studies involving sports performers in a variety of settings

Existential Psychology and Sport provides a new framework for understanding applied practice in sport psychology, and is essential reading for both students and practitioners. ... Read more

Book Description
A prestigious, original title co-authored by Rollo May, one of the best selling American fathers of existential psychology. This long awaited text in existential psychology presents a practical, integrative approach to the discipline especially for the training clinician. Three broad dimensions are emphasized: its literary, philosophical, and psychological heritage, its recent and future trends, and its therapeutic applications. ... Read more

Book Description
`For a book with such a reflective and philosophical element, this is a surprisingly readable and grounded read. This is perhaps the strongest aspect of van Deurzens approach - an ability to understand social development and its often profoundly disturbing effects on the psychology of the individual and to remind us of what is really important in living' - Counsellingbooks.com

`There is a lot to be said for the existential approach in counselling and therapy, and the honesty, intelligence and experience that Emmy van Deurzen brings to her account say it very persuasively. This, thankfully, is not a book setting out a system or founding a school of therapy, but one the reader can engage with constructively to elaborate his or her own position on some very fundamental issues' - David Smail

`Existential Counselling in Practice was without doubt one of the classic texts in this field, and of considerable significance for the wider landscape of therapy too. Existential Counselling & Psychotherapy in Practice is bound to ensure that van Deurzen's practical wisdom continues to influence the future development of existential psychotherapy and counselling for many more years to come' - Simon du Plock, Journal of the Society for Existential Analysis

'Van Deurzen's introduction to existential counselling is outstanding and almost entirely devoid of the linguistic contortions which characterize some of the philosophical literature underpinning the field. For those with an interest in the practical side of existential approaches to counselling and psychotherapy - emphasising the challenges of living in the world rather than focusing on personal psychopathology - I can recommend none better' - CounsellingResource.com

Existential Counselling & Psychotherapy in Practice is the Second Edition of the bestselling text, which offers a concrete framework and practical methods for working from an existential perspective. Central to the book is the belief that many of our problems and concerns arise out of the essential paradoxes of human existence, rather than from personal pathology. From this perspective, the purpose of counselling and psychotherapy is not viewed as problem-solving or skill-building, but as a means 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 approach 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. ... Read more

Book Description
Existential psychology examines how people deal with the biggest issues - such as finding meaning in life and facing death. It deals with many of the same problems as psychoanalysis and analytical psychology, but emphasises the view that one can understand the life of another by listening to their way of seeing existence and opening up their ‘phenomenal world’. As a therapeutic approach it is recognised by the British Psychological Society and taught on a number of courses. This introductory text discusses all the main contemporary theories of existential psychology, and illustrates them with case examples. Practical implications for clinical work are considered, and comparisons with other approaches such as humanistic psychotherapy are made throughout. ... Read more

Product Description
In writing his book on the meaning of existence, Julian Lev takes us all the way back to the beginning. "In the beginning, everyone is born." This is not the beginning of Heaven and Earth.This is our personal beginning, the point of entry for our life experience. With its simple language and compelling art, this is a story for all ages; and, as the climax suggests, may be a Story for the Ages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

MEANING OF LIFE an encouragement of thought
"THE MEANING OF LIFE" Author, Dr. Julian Lev (a practicing psychologist in New Mexico) has written a quick read that should be read, considered and discussed by all.The well chosen words will have a different meaning and provoke thoughts and considerations of ones own life."THE MEANING OF LIFE" can be read in as little as 15 minutes or pondered and considered for hours.It should be read and discussed with the 4 year old and read annually by all who are striving for the future or reflecting upon the past.The spectacular art work encourages the thought provoking process so encouraged by the reading.Certainly, "less (words) is more" in this delightful reading. ... Read more

Book Description
A criticism of modern psychology in general and Freud's determinism in particular. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Speculative? System-building?Abstract? Gut-wrenching!
This work consists of 2 excerpts from Satre's "Being and Nothingness". What's new is a 17 page introduction by Rollo May. Although May admires Sartre, he does present key differences he has with Sartre, so this intro has some teeth in it. Even as excerpts, there's about 200 pages of meaty exposition that saves you lugging around "Being And Nothingness" if this subset is yourfocus.

Sartre builds up a big, abstract, speculative system, apparently as a framework for his belief in human freedom, choice, and responsibility. What does this construction accomplish that simple assertions wouldn't of our freedom, our not being determined, our defining ourself via our yet-to-be-accomplished projects, our responsibility rooted in our unavoidable need to make choices? Perhaps both emphasis (you'll be less likely to forget you are free), elaboration (you'll learn more what being free as well as trying not to be implies), and examples (you'll learn more of the ways in which people try to avoid the weight of their freedom).

Even if the experts tell you they have you all figured out, you'll have decide whether to buy that or not. Even if you want to be all figured out and delivered from uncertainty, they (and you) may be wrong. If Sartre only argued for our individual freedoms, he wouldn't be so important. It is in his exploration of the ways in which we cringe from our freedom, of our "bad faith", that he connects and makes what seems a speculative, abstract system instead a powerful emotional truth.

Excellent Book
I read this book in one sitting and found it to be very informative. In outlining the basis for an existentialist psychoanalysis, Sartre gives interesting and riveting existential perspectives on the human situation. I would recommend anyone with an interest in philosophy, psychology, and thehuman situation in general to give this book a try. ... Read more

Book Description
SYNOPSIS OF EACH CHAPTER: Introduction: Transcending Our Existential Predicament Our inner states-of-being are disclosed to us at special moments of vision in which we see deeply into ourselves. Some of the obstacles that prevent us from noticing how we are in our deepest beings are lack of sensitivity, lack of subjectivity, and being in bad faith.These moments of vision may be triggered by deep encounters with nature, striking events in our lives, by artistic creation and appreciation, and by simply looking inward.

Each chapter of this book deals with a different inner state-of being: existential loneliness, depression, absurdity, meaninglessness, etc. But it is possible to live beyond our Existential Malaise.We prepare ourselves for this new condition by (1) uncovering and accepting our Existential Predicament, (2) giving up the psychological methods that do work for coping with the psychological twin of our Existential Malaise, and (3) a profound re-orientation of being.

Chapter 1 Existential Loneliness Our sense of incompleteness is deeper than love can reach.It is more propound than all forms of interpersonal loneliness.Our existential loneliness is really an incompleteness of being.

Chapter 2 Existential Depression We feel 'down' without any objective cause.

Chapter 3 Existential Absurdity Our existential absurdity may be discovered deep within ourselves when the metaphysical systems that attempt to explain everything collapse.

Chapter 4 Existential Meaninglessness For people who are asking for the ultimate purpose of their lives.We may notice the existential meaninglessness peeking out from behind the ordinary disappoints and discrepancies of life.

Chapter 5 The Existential Void

Another way to feel our Existential Malaise is The Void, a dark hole in the middle of our beings, which threatens to engulf us entirely. Could this be what sensitive artists and thinkers have tried to articulate?An emptiness within - even in the midst of external achievement and happiness.

Chapter 6 Existential Anxiety: Angst

Simple fears and worries are distinguished from the free-floating terror that has no cause.Here our Existential Malaise may be discovered in the ways it distorts and exaggerates our ordinary fears. In some ways angst may be the paradigm of our Existential Predicament.

Chapter 7 Existential Splitting: Soren Kierkegaard's Sickness unto Death

For a change of pace, this chapter is based on a famous book. Kierkegaard describes the many ways in which we may be split against ourselves.And he shines a light in the direction of wholeness.

Chapter 8 Existential Guilt People from moralistic backgrounds are likely to feel their Predicament as an intractable guilt.This deeper guilt is carefully distinguished from simple moral conscience.

Chapter 9 An Existential Understanding of Death or A Phenomenology of Ontological Anxiety Can we make sense of a terror deeper than death itself?Kierkegaard and Heidegger figure strongly in this longest chapter.Readers may find this the most difficult chapter, but it is also the most original and profound.

Chapter 10 Existential Despair Another philosophical way of discovering our Existential Predicament. We see thru the cardboard scenery to the bleak truth beyond.But even below the deepest despair, there is hope.

Chapter 11 Existential Insecurity For readers whose Malaise makes them feel insecure about everything. When ordinary security-operations do not being security, perhaps the problem is existential.

Afterword: Obstacles to Existential Freedom This conclusion to the book explores the many inward problems that prevent us from opening ourselves to Existential Freedom.And it makes more clear than ever how this new inner state-of-being differs from a wide variety of psychological means of coping. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

life changing literally
As a modern existentialist, James Park does a phenomenal job of explaining to the public, what exactly existentialism is and how it can give you a new and more candid look at ones life.I praise him for his work and his efforts.I wonder, will he ever write about the implications of uploading a humans memory to a computer which could result in immortality?PLEASE WRITE A NOVEL ON THIS! ... Read more