A major criticism of an existential approach in counselling and psychotherapy (as if it can be seen as a coherent approach) is that it lacks a systematic statement of the principles and practices of therapy. There is an absence of a coherent set of highly developed techniques. The approach can be applied in a haphazard […]
A transpersonal critique of Existential Psychotherapy Read More »
Integrative psychotherapy should include all states of being, that is what it means to work from a holistic perspective, as well as all major theoretical traditions, this is what it means to be integrative. If human beings exist on at least five levels, namely body, feelings, intellect, soul and spirit, then we have to work
Working from an integrative theoretical approach in psychotherapy Read More »
Whilst psychodynamic approaches focus on uncovering what is in the client’s unconscious and exploring childhood experiences, the Rogerian approach is more concerned with the here and now of the client’s experience through the client’s eyes, from their subjective internal frame of reference. The Rogerian approach can be termed more democratic, perhaps reflecting the evolutionary progression
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In classic Freudian therapy, psychological ill health emerges when the balance between the id, ego and super ego is distorted. “Patients” will present for counselling in an egodystonic state – when thoughts and behaviours are in conflict, or dissonant, with the needs and goals of the ego, or, further, in conflict with a person’s ideal
Can psychoanalysis be called transpersonal? Read More »
Given the recent 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech I began to wonder whether we all should have a dream. That made me think about what my dream is. Do I have a personal dream to realise my own potential or am I dreaming of a better future for wider
I read an interesting piece of research looking at whether it pays to be selfish or unselfish. The Adami Lab at Michigan State University have used evolutionary game theory (EGT) as a simplified model system to study the viability and stability of behaviour on evolutionary scales. The research project used high-powered computing to run hundreds
Does it pay to be selfish? Read More »
The term integrative psychotherapist can be loosely banded around these days and can often engender confusion for potential clients when seeking counselling and psychotherapy. Each school of counselling and psychotherapy can be quite precious about their particular approach. Psychoanalysis can be seen as purist as can Rogerian therapy in that they both offer a comprehensive approach
This past weekend I attended the healing with breath and sound three day experiential workshop, a mandatory requirement for my postgraduate diploma in counselling and psychotherapy at the CCPE. This seminar explored the use of breath and sound in order to try and restore harmony in our bodies and our psyches. The weekend covered rhythms of breath,
healing with breath and sound Read More »
I have just returned from a trip to Dublin and it was good to see the Yeats exhibition in the National Library of Ireland. You can see an online version of the exhibition here. It was interesting to note the influence of alchemy on Yeats through the Golden Dawn. The Golden Dawn was a magical order and
Out and about in Ireland Read More »
This past weekend we had a two day experiential workshop on the psychology of accomplishment, a mandatory part of the diploma course. However, you do not need to be a student at the CCPE in order to attend a weekend course like this. If you wanted to attend you could come as a member of
Setting goals: Identify with your saboteur in psychotherapy Read More »