Existential Psychology East-West (Volume 2)

Louis Hoffman · Mark Yang · Monica Mansilla · Jason Dias · Michael Moats · Trent Claypool

Jun 2020 · University Professors Press

About this ebook

Existential-Psychology East-West (Volume 2) emerged from continued dialogues on existential psychology, particularly existential-humanistic psychology, in Southeast Asia. This volume includes authors from Southeast Asia, India, Africa, Europe, and the United States, including Xuefu Wang, Louise Sundararajan, Mark Yang, Louis Hoffman, Al Dueck, Albert Chan, Donna Rockwell, Ilene Serlin, Rainbow Tin Hung Ho, Rochelle Suri, Meili Pinto, and Anthony K. Nkyi. The book is divided into three sections: 1) Theory and Practice, 2) Applications and Case Illustrations, and 3) Existential Perspectives on Cultural Myths. The first three chapter focus on Zhi Mian Therapy, an indigenous Chinese approach to existential psychology. These chapters are the most comprehensive overview of Zhi Mian Therapy in English to date. Other theory chapters include a discussion of international psychology from an existential-humanistic perspective, the concept of Sui Wu Fu Xing, men’s violence against women, Sunyata, and the concept of savoring. The second section focuses on a variety of case illustrations to illuminate the practice of existential therapy in different cultural contexts. The final section expands upon existential perspectives of myths as developed in Rollo May’s The Cry for Myth and Existential Psychology East-West (Volume 1). Seven myths from different cultural contexts are examined from an existential perspective. Along with Volume 2, Existential-Psychology East-West (Volume 2) represents a landmark contribution to the existential psychology literature.

About the author

Louis Hoffman, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in practice in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and a faculty member at Saybrook University. Dr. Hoffman has 15 books and over 100 book chapters and journal articles to his credit. He has been recognized as a fellow by the American Psychological Association (Divisions 1, 10, 32, 36, & 52) for his contributions to the field of psychology. He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology, The Humanistic Psychologist, and Janus Head. Dr. Hoffman is a co-founder of the International Institute of Existential–Humanistic Psychology and serves of the board of The Humanitarian Alliance. He is a past president of the Society for Humanistic Psychology (Division 32 of the American Psychological Association) and current president of the Rocky Mountain Humanistic Counseling and Psychological Association. In addition to his academic pursuits, Dr. Hoffman enjoys reading and writing poetry, and has published several books in University Professors Press’s Poetry, Healing, and Growth Book Series. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three sons, hiking with his dogs, and enjoying the beautiful Colorado mountains. 

Mark Yang, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and co-founder and director of the International Institute of Existential–Humanistic Psychology (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 Asia.  His professional interests include: existential psychology, individual and group psychotherapy, grief and bereavement counseling, legal and ethical issues in clinical practice, and cross-cultural psychology.  Dr. Yang is the editor of the book Existential Psychology and the Way of the Tao:  Meditations on the Writings of Zhuangzi.  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.

Monica Mansilla, PhD, is the founder and clinical director of the Relational Path Institute (www.relationalpath.com), whose mission is to promote the Existential-Humanistic approach to couple therapy and mindfulness in the Middle East, Australia, and Spain. Dr. Mansilla holds a Doctorate in Psychology and two doctoral level certifications, including International Psychology and Existential-Humanistic Psychology. She developed the Humanistic-Existential Approach to Relationship Therapy (HEART), which she teaches to psychotherapists and psychologists around the world. She also developed the Mindfulness Based Approach to Existential Therapy (MBExist), which she utilizes in mindfulness groups and teaches to mindfulness group leaders. Dr. Mansilla has been recognized with the Rollo May Scholarship Award for the advancement of Existential-Humanistic Theory. She is currently developing the first HEART Centre in the Middle East, with the mission of exclusively providing Existential-Humanistic counseling and psychotherapy to individuals, families, and groups.  Having recently relocated to Canada, she considers herself a citizen of the world, being born and raised in Guatemala, developing her adult years in Canada, having lived, worked, and develop her theories in Qatar, and having traveled to over 40 countries while developing her interest in International Psychotherapy.  

Jason Dias, PsyD, worked for fifteen years with adults who experience developmental disabilities, beginning in direct care and ending with program management and treatment planning. He worked four years in a psychiatric hospital with patients in extreme states. He earned a doctorate in clinical psychology in 2010, specializing in existential psychotherapy. He taught at Saybrook University and now teaches at Pikes Peak Community College, his dream job. He co-founded the Zhi Mian Institute for International Existential Psychology, helping to provide counseling skills to Chinese psychotherapists. Additionally, he publishes at least two novels a year, bringing existential philosophy to people in accessible formats. In his free time, he sleeps and eats food.

Michael Moats, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Colorado Springs. His passion is working with individuals that are actively working through trauma/grief. He was an originating co-founder of the International Institute for Existential–Humanistic Psychology (IIEHP), and his work in China is an effort to expand the field of psychology through inclusion, as well as to continue his personal growth through research, dialogue, and engagement. He is the co-editor of two current and one upcoming poetry anthologies in the University Professors Press Poetry, Healing, and Growth Series. Michael also has published journal articles and book chapters focused on international psychology, diversity, and the therapeutic relationship.

Trent Claypool, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist specializing in the treatment of athletes, eating disorders, and trauma at Neurofeedback Colorado Springs and a lecturer at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. From 2015 through 2018, he served on the American College Health Association’s Task Force to Give Guidance on Addressing Sexual Assault, which included publication of a position statement, guidelines on sexual assault prevention, and a toolkit: Addressing Sexual and Relationship Violence: A Trauma Informed Approach. He is a recipient of the Ruth E. Boynton Award for Distinguished Service to the American College Health Association. Dr. Claypool is an invited speaker nationally on sexual assault prevention and specifically on engaging men in addressing sexual assault. He enjoys spending time with family, trail running, and triathlon.