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Practising Existential Therapy
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Practising Existential Therapy
The Relational World

Second Edition


December 2014 | 288 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

Drawn from the author’s experience as an internationally-recognised theorist, lecturer and practitioner, this practical book elucidates the notoriously difficult and distinctly different therapeutic approach, existential therapy. Balancing theory and practice, the book provides trainees with an accessible introduction to the author’s own three phase structural model for existential therapy, one which has become widely established and used in training and practice.

Substantially revised and updated throughout, Part One examines the philosophical underpinnings, essential theory and distinctive features of existential therapy while Part Two goes on to present the author's structural model for practice. Both parts are now prefaced by useful schematic overviews which introduce the content and pinpoint key themes in each chapter, helping readers to navigate the text with ease. Practical exercises encourage further engagement with the text and the themes, issues and practices under consideration.

Seen by existential therapists across the world as one of the most influential books on the topic, this new edition is an essential read for all those training, practising or interested in existential therapy.

 
Introduction To The Second Edition
 
PRACTISING EXISTENTIAL THERAPY: THEORY
 
Existential Therapy: Three Key Principles
 
Existence Themes And Concerns
 
Worlding And The Worldview
 
Existential Phenomenological Critiques of Therapy
 
Existential Therapy: An Overview
 
PRACTISING EXISTENTIAL THERAPY: A STRUCTURAL MODEL
 
A Structural Model For Practising Existential Therapy: An Introduction
 
Phase One: Co-Creating The Therapy-World
 
Phase Two: Co-Habiting The Therapy-World
 
Phase Three: Closing Down The Therapy-World
 
Addenda: Existential Therapy With Couples; Existential Therapy With Groups; Time-Limited Existential therapy; Existential Supervision
 
Conclusion

The great strength of this text is the very clear way that Spinelli outlines and explains his approach to therapeutic practice, with numerous practical exercises included to help develop skills and understanding.

Prof Darren Langdridge, The Open University
Existential Analysis

This book is distilled Existential therapy with very clearly explained theory and ensuing practical application. If students want to get a handle of existential therapy they need not go any further than this book. Anyway all the essential references are there.

Dr Chris Mamo
Social and General, Cork Institute of Technology
September 7, 2016

Apart from current work we are developing a new degree in Guidance and Counselling to start in 2017. This will certasinly be on the reading lists I put together.

Dr Colin Alasdair Stewart Cameron
Faculty of Health, Social Work & Educ, Northumbria University
November 2, 2015

A sound text on the subject. This is of sound relevance to students interested in the practice of existential therapy.

Dr Graham Alexander du Plessis
Department of Psychology, Rand Afrikaans University
August 27, 2015

Practising Existential Therapy further expands on the theme of relatedness; adding more substance to this perspective.
The book is structured in a logical way and the exercises are very helpful to further embed the learning.

Mr Richard Carroll
Faculty of Professional and Vocational S, Farnham College
January 9, 2015

Existential therapy is I believe really suited to our profession. Youth and Community workers work with people from where they are and their beliefs and as such this fits very well with this form of counselling.

Mr Baljeet Gill
Ruskin College Oxford, Ruskin College Oxford
January 9, 2015

This text offers a very comprehensive introduction to the theory and practise of Existential Therapy. For the students I am working with, who are studying a Foundation Degree in Counselling with a strongly integrative emphasis, this area of work is very important, and over the past five cohorts around 90% of the students have decided to found their practice upon an existential foundation. This book then will offer not only the introduction alluded to above, but also remain a companion within the developing practice of many of our current and future students.

Mr Andrew Thorne
Ashley Down Centre, City of Bristol College
August 27, 2015
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