Lighting the Candle: Taoist Principles in Supervision Conducted from an Existential–Humanistic Perspective

Mark Yang

Jul 2020 · University Professors Press

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Many scholars and practitioners recognize the resonance between the practice of psychotherapy and supervision and the paradoxical principles found throughout Taoism.  This is evermore true within the existential-humanistic tradition. Therefore, Lighting the Candle, Taoist Principles in Supervision Conducted from an Existential-Humanistic Perspective introduces readers to the selected writing of the Taoist sages Lao Tzu and Zhuangzi, and considers how their wisdom permeates psychotherapy and supervision practiced from an existential-humanistic perspective.  The book takes on a narrative format where the author weaves the following Taoist and existential-humanistic concepts within a number of inspirational stories and supervision case examples gathered across his trainings throughout Southeast Asia. These include wu wei, authenticity, focusing, surrender, trusting the process (trusting the Tao), getting back to the basics, steadiness and the midst of chaos, listening for the unheard, being fully present, humility and awe, bearing witness, following the flow, letting go (of goals, results and techniques), stillness and going nowhere, poetic reflection, and servant leadership. An apprenticeship model of embodied learning is presented in narrative format where the author weaves the above concepts into the supervision process. 

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Mark Yang is a licensed clinical psychologist and co-founder and director of the International Institute of Existential-Humanistic Psychology (http://www.iiehp.org), whose mission is to promote existential-humanistic psychology and provide counseling skills training to mental health professionals in Asia.  He is actively involved in the training and supervision of psychology students from the existential-humanistic perspective throughout Southeast Asia. His professional interests include: Existential-humanistic psychology, individual and group psychotherapy, grief and bereavement counseling, legal and ethical issues in clinical practice, and cross-cultural psychology.  Dr. Yang is editor of the book Existential Psychology and the Way of the Tao: Meditations on the Writings of Zhuangzi and co-editor of Existential Psychology East-West Vol. 1 & 2 and has published several articles focused on the practice and training of existential and humanistic psychology in an international setting. Dr. Yang was born in Taiwan and immigrated with his family to the United States when he was nine years old.  He is also a dog and cat lover.