or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
More Buying Choices
22 used & new from £19.96

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Paradox and Passion in Psychotherapy: An Existential Approach to Therapy and Counselling (Existential Perspectives on Psychotherapy & Counselling)
 
 

Paradox and Passion in Psychotherapy: An Existential Approach to Therapy and Counselling (Existential Perspectives on Psychotherapy & Counselling) (Paperback)

by Emmy van Deurzen (Author) "Psychotherapy and counselling are professions that concern themselves with human dilemmas, human difficulties, human distress, human aspirations, human fears and dreams and many more such..." (more)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
RRP: £32.99
Price: £27.04 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £5.95 (18%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Tuesday, November 17? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
15 new from £25.69 7 used from £19.96

Frequently Bought Together

Paradox and Passion in Psychotherapy: An Existential Approach to Therapy and Counselling (Existential Perspectives on Psychotherapy & Counselling) + Psychotherapy and the Quest for Happiness + Everyday Mysteries: Existential Dimensions of Psychotherapy
Price For All Three: £63.34

Show availability and delivery details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Existential Counselling & Psychotherapy in Practice

Existential Counselling & Psychotherapy in Practice

by Emmy van Deurzen
3.8 out of 5 stars (4)  £16.99
Psychotherapy and the Quest for Happiness

Psychotherapy and the Quest for Happiness

by Emmy van Deurzen
5.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £17.66
Everyday Mysteries: Existential Dimensions of Psychotherapy

Everyday Mysteries: Existential Dimensions of Psychotherapy

by Emmy van Deurzen
3.7 out of 5 stars (3)  £18.64
The Interpreted World: An Introduction to Phenomenological Psychology

The Interpreted World: An Introduction to Phenomenological Psychology

by Dr Ernesto Spinelli
4.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £18.20
Existential Psychotherapy

Existential Psychotherapy

by Irvin D. Yalom
4.6 out of 5 stars (7)  £30.39
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 198 pages
  • Publisher: WileyBlackwell (20 Aug 1998)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0471973904
  • ISBN-13: 978-0471973904
  • Product Dimensions: 22.4 x 15 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 72,149 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #91 in  Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Social Sciences > Social Issues > Social Welfare & Services > Counselling
  • See Complete Table of Contents

Product Description

Product Description

Paradox and Passion in Psychotherapy an existential approach to therapy and counselling Emmy van Deurzen Schiller International University, London, UK This book confronts the taboo of the psychotherapist′s personal history and emotions being involved in the therapeutic process. Emmy van Deurzen shows that therapists can draw on the full richness of their own experience in order to be truly credible and inspiring mentors to their clients. Paradox and dilemmas in human life–such as loneliness versus social integration, safety versus adventure, and confidence versus humility–are discussed clearly and directly, and related to a broad spectrum of questions that psychotherapists and their clients would do well to ask themselves. Throughout the book the author reveals her personal struggles with the same predicaments that her clients seek to understand and resolve. This process of disclosure, and the weaving of vivid client cases and issues together with more general philosophical issues, make this a practical and inspiring book that demonstrates the reality and passion of psychotherapy. "Passion and Paradox will become a classic celebration of the sheer power of existential thinking, living, being, and doing. Existentialism comes to bristling life as you walk with Professor van Deurzen through the world of psychotherapy, the world of psychotherapy professionalism, and the deeply personal world of the person who is a psychotherapist." Alvin R. Mahrer, PhD, author of The Complete Guide to Experiential Psychotherapy "Of the vast number of books written on psychotherapy this is one of the very few that are really worth reading. Emmy van Deurzen has the essential attributes of the truly gifted psychotherapist: experience, intelligence, cultural breadth and–above all–the courage to strive after truth. There is much to be learned about psychotherapy and psychotherapists from what she has to say." David Smail, Nottingham, UK


From the Back Cover

This book confronts the taboo of the psychotherapist’s personal history and emotions being involved in the therapeutic process. Emmy van Deurzen shows that therapists can draw on the full richness of their own experience in order to be truly credible and inspiring mentors to their clients. Paradox and dilemmas in human life such as loneliness versus social integration, safety versus adventure, and confidence versus humility are discussed clearly and directly, and related to a broad spectrum of questions that psychotherapists and their clients would do well to ask themselves. Throughout the book the author reveals her personal struggles with the same predicaments that her clients seek to understand and resolve. This process of disclosure, and the weaving of vivid client cases and issues together with more general philosophical issues, make this a practical and inspiring book that demonstrates the reality and passion of psychotherapy.

"Passion and Paradox will become a classic celebration of the sheer power of existential thinking, living, being, and doing. Existentialism comes to bristling life as you walk with Professor van Deurzen through the world of psychotherapy, the world of psychotherapy professionalism, and the deeply personal world of the person who is a psychotherapist." Alvin R. Mahrer, PhD, author of The Complete Guide to Experiential Psychotherapy

"Of the vast number of books written on psychotherapy this is one of the very few that are really worth reading. Emmy van Deurzen has the essential attributes of the truly gifted psychotherapist: experience, intelligence, cultural breadth and above all the courage to strive after truth. There is much to be learned about psychotherapy and psychotherapists from what she has to say." David Smail, Nottingham, UK


Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
Psychotherapy and counselling are professions that concern themselves with human dilemmas, human difficulties, human distress, human aspirations, human fears and dreams and many more such human pre-occupations. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

Tag this product

 (What's this?)
Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.
Your tags: Add your first tag
 

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Paradox and Passion in Psychotherapy: An Existential Approach to Therapy and Counselling (Existential Perspectives on Psychotherapy & Counselling)
61% buy the item featured on this page:
Paradox and Passion in Psychotherapy: An Existential Approach to Therapy and Counselling (Existential Perspectives on Psychotherapy & Counselling) 5.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£27.04
Psychotherapy and the Quest for Happiness
15% buy
Psychotherapy and the Quest for Happiness 5.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£17.66
Love's Executioner: and Other Tales of Psychotherapy (Penguin Psychology)
8% buy
Love's Executioner: and Other Tales of Psychotherapy (Penguin Psychology) 4.7 out of 5 stars (29)
The Interpreted World: An Introduction to Phenomenological Psychology
8% buy
The Interpreted World: An Introduction to Phenomenological Psychology 4.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£18.20

 

Customer Reviews

1 Review
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the best book on Psychotherapy yet written?, 14 Jul 2001
By A Customer
In 'Paradox and Passion' Emmy van Deurzen asks fundamental questions about life and the therapeutic enterprise and has successfully arrived at some insightful 'answers' to these confusing questions. These answers open up possibilities for living a better life without falling into a prescriptive dogmatism. In asking questions of what 'truth', 'wisdom', and 'human well-being', may mean, she has gone back to philosophical basics and hence kept in view the wider questions that surround the creation of existential philosophy and psychotherapy in general.

Van Deurzen attempts to outline an existential approach to psychotherapy and counselling that embraces paradoxes inherent in being human that not only 'cause' problems in living but that also hold some of the answers to living a better life. When we accept and even welcome them as part of our human condition, we can see such dilemmas as unavoidable and hence a challenge. This is where passion is needed to commit oneself to the 'truth' of this situation. To commit oneself to this it seems we need an overall commitment to truth in our lives.

Throughout the book she illustrates her theory by relating personal events in her life which have acted as catalysts for the development of her philosophy on life. These events range from childhood experiences to her early professional careers in mental institutions and 'progressive' therapeutic communities. There is also an open and interesting account of some of the mistakes she has made as a therapist, which have been valuable learning experiences.

This book will be controversial for some readers as it dares to talk not only of the importance for therapy of questions as to what it may mean to 'live well', but also about some of the answers that may stem from a passionate belief in the search for 'truth'. But these should not be controversial, as the bottom line of therapy is a search for a better way of living life for the therapist as well as the client.

Emmy van Deurzen is passionate about her beliefs, her truths. However, they are not "rules or prescriptive formulae" (p.139) to follow. Consequently, in keeping with the spirit of Passion and Paradox , I would like to suggest the following; this book itself becomes a paradox regarding the nature of 'truth' and the difficulties associated with communicating a truth which is both 'objective', as it refers to the human condition, and 'subjective', because the truth, by its nature, has to be chosen and lived by each individual.

Van Deurzen's existential philosophy, and she is clear to point out that "the existential approach has to be created anew by each practitioner" (p.139), is difficult because it not only acknowledges paradox but tackles it head on. Her arguments allow for the paradox of the therapist believing in an authentic approach to being human without dictating to the client what that actually entails. This is a profoundly unsettling paradox for therapists but one that will not go away through a desire to remain safe and secure, within orientations or organisations.

This is an ethical book, a work of moral philosophy, a meditation on living well that keeps in view most of the paradoxes and difficulties we all face. It offers a refreshing antidote to the majority of books on psychotherapy, including a number of other recent attempts to outline an existential approach. As a therapist who has a some what 'love-hate' relationship to therapy I cannot recommend this book highly enough, both for practitioners, and for those who simply care about the dilemma of overcoming our human problems along with a desire to live a 'good life'.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Look for similar items by subject


Feedback

Ad

Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.