CBT and Existential Psychology

CBT and EXISTENTIAL PSYCHOLOGY Explore the possibilities and challenges of bringing two highly diverse disciplines—CBT and existential therapy—into dialogue In CBT and Existential Psychology: Philosophy, Psychology and Therapy, distinguished clinical psychologist Dr Michael Worrell delivers a singular exploration of the relationship between diverse forms of contemporary cognitive behaviour therapy and existential phenomenology. Written for both experienced and beginning CBT therapists, as well as therapists who practice from an existential perspective, this book clarifies and discusses the potential and challenges presented when these two different schools of thought and practice are brought into dialogue. The author outlines, in accessible fashion, the implications and possibilities offered by the combination of CBT and existential practice. He also presents a series of discussions with the highly experienced CBT therapists, researchers, and trainers, Tomas Heidenreich and Alexander Noyon, and existential therapy leader Ernesto Spinelli. The book includes a series of “existential reflections” and experiential exercises to allow the reader to develop an understanding of descriptive phenomenological approaches to therapeutic conversations. Readers will also find: A thorough introduction to existential philosophy, psychology, and therapy, including the theory and practice of existential therapy Comprehensive discussions of cognitive and behavioural psychotherapies, including Beckian CBT, schema-focused therapies, and constructivist, narrative, and postmodern CBT In-depth explorations of existential challenges and contributions to therapy, including discussions of anxiety, possibility, and uncertainty Enlightening dialogues on CBT and existential psychology with Tomas Heidenreich, Alexander Noyon, and Ernesto Spinelli Perfect for beginning and advanced CBT and existential therapists, CBT and Existential Psychology: Philosophy, Psychology and Therapy will also earn a place in the libraries of trainee clinical and counselling psychologists, as well as integrative and humanistic psychotherapists.

About the Author ix Contributors x Acknowledgements xi Preface xiii 1 Introduction 1 Part 1 Existential Philosophy, Psychology and Therapy 13 2 Existential Philosophy 15 3 Existential Psychology 35 4 Existential Therapies—Theory 55 5 Existential Practice 74 Part 2 Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies 91 6 Beckian Cognitive Therapy 93 7 Schema Therapies—The Depths of Meaning 113 8 Constructivist, Narrative and Postmodern CBT 130 9 Mindfulness, Acceptance and the Third Wave of CBT 148 10 CBT and Existential Psychology—Convergence and Divergence 169 Part 3 Existential Challenges and Contributions 189 11 The Therapeutic Relationship 191 12 Anxiety, Possibility, Uncertainty 210 13 Dreaming and Describing 227 14 Towards an Existentially Attuned CBT 243 Part 4 Dialogues on CBT and Existential Psychology 261 15 Thomas Heidenreich and Alexander Noyon 263 16 Ernesto Spinelli 277 References 298 Index 317