Existential Psychology: Roots, Theory, and Practice

Catalog description

This course will explore the major themes of Existential Psychotherapy from the perspectives of psychology, philosophy, film, the expressive arts and literature. The Existential movement will be studied within a broader framework from positivism to postmodernism. Students will be introduced to the contributions of Irvin Yalom, Viktor Frankl and James Bugental, as well as a range of clinical practices. Emphasis will be placed on the themes of authenticity, meaning, freedom, responsibility, agency and choice. The class format will include experiential exercises, discussions and films that trace existential concepts within society and everyday experience.