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Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy
Published in: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy 1/2015

01-03-2015 | Original Paper

Existential Psychotherapy the Genetic-Phenomenological Approach: Beyond a Dichotomy Between Relating and Skills

Author: Daniel Sousa

Published in: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

There is a lack of clarity about the technical interventions of existential psychotherapy. The approach has been described dichotomously as being more descriptive or more hermeneutic, as being anti-technique or relying on intervention exclusively experiential nature. This paper presents a genetic-phenomenological approach of existential psychotherapy and argues that it uses both postures and therapeutic techniques that are interconnected and influence each other in the therapeutic process. The existential therapist’s interventions are based in part on common factors but also on specific techniques. The paper presents a theoretical framework of existential psychotherapy and a definition of the postures and intervention techniques of the genetic-phenomenological approach of existential psychotherapy. The aim is to contribute to the clarification of what type of interventions the existential therapist may use during the therapeutic process.
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Metadata
Title
Existential Psychotherapy the Genetic-Phenomenological Approach: Beyond a Dichotomy Between Relating and Skills
Author
Daniel Sousa
Publication date
01-03-2015
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 0022-0116
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3564
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-014-9283-y

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