Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking exploration of Structural Existential Analysis: An Existential-Phenomenological Method for Researching Life, the latest work by Emmy van Deurzen and Claire Arnold-Baker, published by Routledge. This book introduces Structural Existential Analysis (SEA), a groundbreaking qualitative research method that integrates existential-phenomenological perspectives to illuminate the complexities of human experience.In this interactive session, Emmy and Claire will introduce the purpose and process behind their book, sharing insights into its development and the philosophical foundations of SEA. They will read selected extracts, inviting discussion and reflection on the themes that emerge. The session will then open into a dynamic conversation, offering space for audience engagement, questions, and dialogue.
This workshop is designed as an open and conversational experience—without slides or formal presentations—allowing for a rich and immersive exchange of ideas. Whether you are new to existential-phenomenological research or already familiar with the field, this is an opportunity to connect with the authors and explore how SEA can deepen our understanding of lived experience.
Structural Existential Analysis: An Existential-Phenomenological Method for Researching Life is available from Routledge and is an essential read for researchers, educators, and practitioners in existential therapies, clinical psychology, and counselling psychology.
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“Bringing Wisdom to the World”
If you have been wondering where you might be able to find a group of people who want to bring their knowledge and experience to a worldwide movement for a better way of life, you have just found it.
Existential ideas are a powerfully alternative way of looking at human existence. These ideas have been around for many millennia, in the Athenian philosophies, the Eastern philosophical traditions and even, in a sense in pagan philosophies.
They became much more prominent in the 19th century with the writings of Soren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche and came to fruition with the work of Husserl, when he provided the method of phenomenology.
Most people have heard about existentialism, a mainly French 20th century philosophical movement, that broke the mould of philosophy and made it about human existence, rather than about human knowledge.
Since then existential ideas have been applied vigorously to the practice of psychology and psychotherapy and a movement of existential therapy was generated over the past century, that is now extremely popular. All around the world existential therapists work in this way and every four years they come together for the World Congress of Existential Therapy.
However it has now become vital to broaden the scope of the movement. As the world is in turmoil and going through extremely dangerous times, humanity seems to have lost track of the things that really matter. People have placed consumerism, profitability and competition at the foreground of human existence and have stopped noticing how they are ruining the eco system of the planet as well as the emotional climate in which we all live.
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Presenter
Dr. Claire Arnold-Baker, DCPsych (UK) is an existential counselling psychologist and psychotherapist, a lecturer, supervisor and researcher, as well as being the Principal and Course Leader of the DCPsych programme at NSPC. She has a small private practice where she specialises in working existentially with mothers and has a twin passion for maternal mental health and the natural world. Claire has co-authored and edited a number of existential books as well as authoring chapters and articles. She is also a trustee of the Federation of Existential Therapy in Europe (FETE).
Emmy van Deurzen is a professor of Psychology and Psychotherapy with 18 books to her name, several of which have been translated into a dozen languages. She is the Co-Founder and Principal of the Existential Academy, where she also runs post graduate courses through the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling in partnership with Middlesex University and her private practice.
Born and raised in the Netherlands, she lived, studied, and worked in France before settling in the UK in 1977. Emmy has been instrumental in founding or cofounding numerous organizations, including the Society for Existential Analysis, the Federation for Existential Therapy in Europe and the World Confederation of Existential Therapy. She has helped people in facing their life problems and suffering for nearly half a century.
Amongst her books are the bestsellers Existential Psychotherapy and Counselling in Practice (3d edition 2012), Psychotherapy and the Quest for Happiness (Sage, 2009), Everyday Mysteries (2nd edition Routledge, 2010) and Paradox and Passion (2nd edition, Wiley, 2015). Her book Rising from Existential Crisis was published with PCCS books in 2021. She is currently writing a book on Existential Freedom for Penguin.
