ABSTRACT

Existential Group Counselling and Psychotherapy provides a theoretical and practical foundation for practice. It serves as a guide that provides a solid grounding in the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of therapeutic group-work from an existential perspective.

The first section of the book, Modern Origins, offers a review of modern western sources: a survey of early developments, what formats have endured, and to what extent these antecedents have informed, but are distinct from, current paradigms. The second section, Being and Doing, provides a description of the existential phenomenological paradigm for group therapeutic groupwork, reviewing possible therapeutic effects, as well as risks and disappointments that may affect both members, and facilitators. Part three, Doing and Being, covers practice, procedure, and possible problems.

Written in a practical, accessible style, and incorporating clinical vignettes and anecdotal material, the book will be relevant for counsellors and psychotherapists in training and practice, as well as for special interest organisations that sponsor groups.

chapter |2 pages

Introduction

part I|29 pages

Modern western origins

chapter Chapter 1|2 pages

Historical overview

chapter Chapter 2|5 pages

Kurt Lewin (1890–1947)

chapter Chapter 3|4 pages

Wilfred Bion (1897–1979)

chapter Chapter 4|4 pages

S.H. Foulkes (1898–1976)

chapter Chapter 5|4 pages

Carl Rogers (1902–1987)

chapter Chapter 6|5 pages

Irvin D. Yalom (1931–)

chapter Chapter 7|3 pages

Conclusion and summary, Part I

part II|82 pages

Being and doing

chapter Chapter 9|4 pages

Why group

chapter Chapter 10|2 pages

The existential givens of human existence

chapter Chapter 11|4 pages

Time and temporality

chapter Chapter 12|4 pages

Relatedness

chapter Chapter 13|3 pages

Uncertainty, angst, and anxiety

chapter Chapter 14|5 pages

Freedom, choice, and change

chapter Chapter 15|5 pages

Death

chapter Chapter 16|5 pages

Meaning, meaninglessness, nothingness

chapter Chapter 17|6 pages

Embodiment and spatiality

chapter Chapter 18|4 pages

Emotions

chapter Chapter 19|3 pages

Language

chapter Chapter 20|5 pages

The world-view

chapter Chapter 21|6 pages

The contributions of existential phenomenology

chapter Chapter 22|4 pages

The contributions of hermeneutics

chapter Chapter 23|5 pages

The nature of problems and the process of change

chapter Chapter 24|8 pages

Relational issues

chapter Chapter 25|3 pages

Conclusion and summary, Part II

part III|57 pages

Doing and being

chapter Chapter 26|11 pages

Forming, maintaining, and ending the group

chapter Chapter 28|5 pages

Focal points

Responsibilities of the facilitator, the members, the group

chapter Chapter 29|7 pages

The ways of dialogue

chapter Chapter 31|10 pages

Difficult and challenging behaviours

chapter Chapter 33|2 pages

Conclusion and summary, Part III