Time-Limited Existential Therapy

Explore the concept of time as it applies to the therapeutic setting  Following the innovative first edition which she co-authored with her late father, Freddie Strasser, in the newly revised Second Edition of Time-Limited Existential Therapy: The Wheel of Existence, distinguished therapist Alison Strasser delivers an insightful aid to integrating and working with existential givens as they arise within a therapeutic encounter. She locates the concept of Time as central to all therapies, regardless of their theoretical modality, and demonstrates how it can be used in brief, short-term, and open-ended therapies.  The book relies on the concept of The Wheel to provide a framework for understanding existential and phenomenological philosophies and to help readers put them into practice with clients. It includes meaningful case vignettes that bring existential themes to life and is accessible to both therapists and interested lay members of the public.  Finally, the author highlights how our experience with COVID-19 has impacted, and been impacted by, the existential themes we all deal with on a regular basis.  A thorough overview of a commonsense existential approach and a discussion of the mystery of time Practical discussions of the limitations and possibilities of time-limited existential therapies, as well as concepts and methods in the area.  Comprehensive explorations of the tyranny of high morality, and examinations of the body, the "givents" and "connectedness".  Time-Limited Existential Therapy: The Wheel of Existence is an indispensable resource for experienced psychotherapists, counsellors, social workers, coaches, and psychologists, as well as trainees in these fields seeking a common-sense approach to existential ideas in the context of therapy.

Foreword ix Preface xi Acknowledgements xvii About the Author xviii Part I 1 1 Existential and Phenomonological Philosophies and the Wheel of Existence 3 2 Core of the Wheel: Time and Self 14 3 Time in Therapy: The Principal Concepts of Existential Time-Limited Therapy 20 4 Approaches to Time-Limited Therapy 30 Part II 39 Layers and Leaves: Ontologicals and Ontics 41 The Ontological Layer: Universalising 43 5 The Ontological ‘Givens’ 44 Stepping Through the Ontic Leaves: Individualising 54 6 Working with The Phenomenological Process 56 7 Establishing Safety 73 8 Discovering Anxiety 81 9 Revealing the Relationship 93 10 Exploring the Four Worlds 104 11 Clarifying the Worldview 112 12 Working with Paradox and Polarities 123 13 Identifying Choices and Meaning 132 14 Integrating Mind and Body 141 15 Understanding Authenticity 147 Afterword: COVID-19 156 References 162 Index 168