Everyday Mysteries: A Handbook of Existential Psychotherapy, Edition 2

Emmy van Deurzen

Dec 2009 · Routledge

About this ebook

This book provides an in-depth introduction to existential psychotherapy. Presenting a philosophical alternative to other forms of psychological treatment, it emphasises the problems of living and the human dilemmas that are often neglected by practitioners who focus on personal psychopathology.

Emmy van Deurzen defines the philosophical ideas that underpin existential psychotherapy, summarising the contributions made by Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger and Sartre among others. She proposes a systemic and practical method of existential psychotherapy, illustrated with detailed case material. This expanded and updated second edition includes new chapters on the contributions of Max Scheler, Albert Camus, Gabriel Marcel and Emmanuel Levinas, as well as on feminist contributors such as Simone de Beauvoir and Hannah Arendt. In addition a new extended case discussion illustrates the approach in practice.

Everyday Mysteries offers a fresh perspective for anyone training in psychotherapy, counselling, psychology or psychiatry. Those already established in practice will find this a stimulating source of ideas about everyday life and the mysteries of human experience, which will throw new light on old issues.

Ratings and reviews

I purchased this book to help me with my studies into person centred counselling. I have read the first few chapters and I am so pleased that I bought this, I can see how existentialism underpins the person centred approach.

About the author

Emmy van Deurzen is an existential psychotherapist, counselling psychologist and philosopher, who has published numerous books and who lectures internationally on a broad range of existential topics. She was the founder of Regent’s College School of Psychotherapy and Counselling, of the Society for Existential Analysis and of the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling in London, which she continues to direct. Her private practice, Dilemma Consultancy Ltd. is based in Sheffield and London.