Everyday Mysteries

This book provides an in-depth introduction to existential psychotherapy. Presenting a philosophical alternative to other forms of psychological treatment, it emphasises the problems of living and the human dilemmas that are often neglected by practitioners who focus on personal psychopathology.Emmy van Deurzen defines the philosophical ideas that underpin existential psychotherapy, summarising the contributions made by Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger and Sartre among others. She proposes a systemic and practical method of existential psychotherapy, illustrated with detailed case material. This expanded and updated second edition includes new chapters on the contributions of Max Scheler, Albert Camus, Gabriel Marcel and Emmanuel Levinas, as well as on feminist contributors such as Simone de Beauvoir and Hannah Arendt. In addition a new extended case discussion illustrates the approach in practice.Everyday Mysteries offers a fresh perspective for anyone training in psychotherapy, counselling, psychology or psychiatry. Those already established in practice will find this a stimulating source of ideas about everyday life and the mysteries of human experience, which will throw new light on old issues.

"This expanded edition of Emmy van Deurzen's classic work on existential therapy is more urgently needed today than when it was first published. In our contemporary psychotherapy world, more intent on scientific credibility and 'cure' for discomfort than on challenge to fuller living, this deeply wise book calls us back to a respect for the human dimensions of our practice. The new case study which concludes the book is a moving testimony to the efficacy of this approach where all else seems to fail." - Betty Cannon, President, Boulder Psychotherapy Institute, and author of Sartre and Psychoanalysis, USA"Emmy van Deurzen is a leading figure in the field of existential psychology who has written a comprehensive volume that illuminates how the problems of living can be the ideal focus of psychotherapy. She demonstrates how existential therapy invites people to engage in exploring universal human struggles as a way of living fully." - Gerald Corey, Professor Emeritus of Human Services, California State University at Fullerton, USA, "This expanded edition of Emmy van Deurzen's classic work on existential therapy is more urgently needed today than when it was first published. In our contemporary psychotherapy world, more intent on scientific credibility and 'cure' for discomfort than on challenge to fuller living, this deeply wise book calls us back to a respect for the human dimensions of our practice. The new case study which concludes the book is a moving testimony to the efficacy of this approach where all else seems to fail." - Betty Cannon, President, Boulder Psychotherapy Institute, and author of Sartre and Psychoanalysis, USA"Emmy van Deurzen is a leading figure in the field of existential psychology who has written a comprehensive volume that illuminates how the problems of living can be the ideal focus of psychotherapy. She demonstrates how existential therapy invites people to engage in exploring universal human struggles as a way of living fully." - Gerald Corey, Professor Emeritus of Human Services, California State University at Fullerton, USA"This book's strongest point is to give philosophy a significant place within psychology, especially with this form of psychotherapy" - Yves Laberge, Clinical Psychology Forum

Emmy van Deurzen is an existential psychotherapist, counselling psychologist and philosopher, who has published numerous books and who lectures internationally on a broad range of existential topics. She was the founder of Regent’s College School of Psychotherapy and Counselling, of the Society for Existential Analysis and of the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling in London, which she continues to direct. Her private practice, Dilemma Consultancy Ltd. is based in Sheffield and London.