Paradox and Passion in Psychotherapy

About the Author ix Preface to the Second Edition x Preface to the First Edition xii Acknowledgements xv Introduction 1 Section 1 Paradox 15 Introduction: The Central Role of Paradox in Human Existence 15 1 Ontological Insecurity Revisited: Self‐confidence Versus Anxiety 23 2 Courting Death: Life in the Balance 37 3 The Survival of the Self: Identity, Freedom and Disintegration 58 4 Intimacy and Love: Closeness and Distance Between Self and Other 69 5 Alienation and Adaptation: Being a Stranger in a Foreign Land 77 Section 2 Passion 87 Introduction: the Central Role of Passion in Human Existence 87 6 A Passion for Life: Rediscovering the Intensity of Living 95 7 Truth as a Touchstone: Reality and Meaning as the Bedrock of Living 106 8 Hard‐earned Lessons: a Therapist’s own Journey to Self‐understanding 121 9 Letting the Client’s Life Touch Yours: the Art of Resonance and Presence 143 10 The Moral Compass: How Can Counselling and Therapy Help? 158 Section 3 Existential Psychotherapy 173 Introduction: A New Way of Working 173 11 Widening Horizons: Universal Dimensions of the Human Dilemma 177 12 What is Existential Analysis? Sketch for an Existential Approach 189 13 Philosophy as Therapy: The Ultimate Goal of our Work 200 14 A New Challenge: Towards Transcendence 208 Section 4 Illustrations of Existential Work 223 Introduction: What We Can Learn From Practice 223 15 Marie‐Louise: Letting Go of the Past in Order to Reclaim it 227 16 Vicky: Learning to Be More by Being Less 233 17 Peter: Finding Oneself in Spite of Psychotherapy 241 18 Jerry: Transcending Trauma 251 Conclusions 263 References 266 Index 273