Existential Authenticity : Theory and Practice

This book draws on existential theory and original research to present the conceptual framework for an understanding of existential authenticity and demonstrates how this approach might be adopted in practice. The authors explore how a non-mediated connection with authentic lived experience might be established and introduced into everyday living. Drs. Jonathan Davidov and Pninit Russo-Netzer begin by introducing readers to the core theoretical concepts before illustrating how this might be applied in a therapeutic practice. It appeals to scholars and practitioners with an interest in existential psychology, phenomenology, and their broad implications. Jonathan Davidov is a teaching fellow at the University of Haifa, researcher, and a practicing psychotherapist in Israel. Dr. Davidovs research interests are existential and phenomenological psychology and human behavior under extreme situations and in significant turning points in life. He has published several scholarly journal articles on these topics. Pninit Russo-Netzer is a senior lecturer, researcher, and the head of the Education Department at Achva Academic College. Dr. Russo-Netzer is a logotherapist, the founder and the head of the "Compass" Institute for the Study and Application of Meaning in life, and the founder and head of the Academic Training Program for Logotherapy (meaning-oriented psychotherapy) at Tel-Aviv University. Her main research and practice interests focus on meaning in life, positive psychology, existential psychology, spirituality, positive change, and growth. She has published books and scholarly journal articles on these topics Acknowledgements Contents List of Figures List of Tables Introduction References Part I: The Main Principles of Existential Thinking Chapter 1: ‘Everything Is Foreseen, and Permission Is Granted’ ‘Everything Is Foreseen’—The Human Destiny “Permission Is Granted”—Humans Are Destined to Be Free References Chapter 2: “Being Here”, Dasein, and the Four Lifeworld Existential Modes of Subjective Experience The Existentials of Experience—Hermeneutic Phenomenology Temporality Embodiment Relationality Spatiality References Chapter 3: Authenticity and the Four Universal Concerns The Existential Anxiety and the Four Universal Concerns Authenticity and Neurotic Anxiety The Universal Concern of Death The Universal Concern of Freedom The Universal Concern of Isolation The Universal Concern of Meaninglessness Authenticity and Psychotherapy References Part II: Applications Chapter 4: The Therapeutic Model A ‘Deficit-Corrective’ Model Compared to an ‘Understanding-Collaboration’ Model of Psychotherapy The Dynamic Approach—The Conflict at the Basis of the Personality The Cognitive Approach—The ‘Self’ as a System of Processing and Controlling the Stream of Consciousness The Existential Approach—Dasein and the Sensual Experience at the Basis of Human Existence References Chapter 5: The Existential Approach in Practice—An Introduction The Dasein Approach and Existential Authenticity References Chapter 6: Being-for the Client and the Phenomenology of the Subjective Experience Client-Focused Goal: To Rediscover What Was Taken for Granted Therapist-Focused Goal: What Is It Like to Be the Client? Temporality Embodiment Relationality Spatiality References Chapter 7: The Being-Alongside Stage and the Client’s Universal Concerns A Bridge Between the Modes of Lifeworld Experience and Existential Concerns The “Being-Alongside” Stage of Intervention Reference Chapter 8: Being Otherwise—Therapeutic Paths, Therapeutic Partnership and the Existential Authenticity Model Existential Authenticity Model Reference Epilogue Reference Index