Phenomenology in Action in Psychotherapy: On Pure Psychology and its Applications in Psychotherapy and Mental Health Care (Contributions to Phenomenology Book 79)

This book takes Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology and applies it to help psychotherapy practitioners formulate complex psychological problems. The reader will learn about Husserl’s system of understanding and its concepts that can point to first-person lived experience, and about the work of Husserl scholars who have developed a way to be precise about the experiences that clients have. Through exploring the connection between academic philosophy of consciousness and mental health, themes of biopsychosocial treatment planning, psychopathology of personality and psychological disorders, and the treatment of complex psychological problems all emerge. The author shows that Husserlian phenomenology can be used in the design of interventions for each client in a process called formulation. Once the intentionality of consciousness of an individual is understood, by asking simple questions, it becomes possible to define problematic experiences. This is a means of creating informed consent for treatment and it also makes it clear to clients what is happening for them, so helping them understand themselves and how they see the world. We also see how Husserl’s phenomenology is a vehicle for psychotherapists to present their knowledge about the research literature of what has been found to be effective care. This volume applies the concepts and practices of phenomenology in a concrete way, relating them to the practice of therapy and showing the value of a qualitative approach to understanding mental processes and the nature of human beings as motivated by values, meanings and other conscious experiences. This is a readable text in simple language that condenses key aspects of Husserl’s thinking in relation to the theory and practice of psychotherapy, and it is suitable for philosophers and practitioners of psychology, psychiatry, and the psychotherapies, including psychoanalysis. This Book Takes Edmund Husserl’s Phenomenology And Applies It To Help Psychotherapy Practitioners Formulate Complex Psychological Problems. The Reader Will Learn About Husserl’s System Of Understanding And Its Concepts That point To First-person Lived Experience, And About The Work Of Husserl Scholars Who Have Developed A Way To Be Precise About The Experiences That Clients Have. Through Exploring The Connection Between Academic Philosophy Of Consciousness And Mental Health, Themes Of Biopsychosocial Treatment Planning, Psychopathology Of Personality And Psychological Disorders, And The Treatment Of Complex Psychological Problems become Clear. The Author Shows That Husserlian Phenomenology Can Be Used In The Design Of Interventions For clients In A Process Called Formulation. Once The Intentionality Of Consciousness is Understood, By Asking Simple Questions, It Becomes Possible To Define Problematic Experiences. This Is A Means Of Creating Informed Consent For Treatment And It makes It Clear To Clients What Is Happening For Them, So Helping Them Understand Themselves And How They See The World. We Also See How Husserl’s Phenomenology Is A Vehicle For Psychotherapists To Present Their Knowledge About The Research Literature Of What Has Been Found To Be Effective Care. This Volume Applies The Concepts And Practices Of Phenomenology In A Concrete Way, Relating Them To The Practice Of Therapy And Showing The Value Of A Qualitative Approach To Understanding Mental Processes And The Nature Of Human Beings As Motivated By Values, Meanings And Other Conscious Experiences. This Is A Readable Text In Simple Language That Condenses Key Aspects Of Husserl’s Thinking In Relation To The Theory And Practice Of Psychotherapy, And It Is Suitable For Philosophers And Practitioners Of Psychology, Psychiatry, And The Psychotherapies, Including Psychoanalysis. Preface -- 1 Introduction: The Naturalistic Attitude Cannot Grasp Meaning For Consciousness -- Part I: Defining Phenomenology And Pure Psychology -- 2 Phenomenology And Meaning For Consciousness -- 3 Two Interpretative Positions In Phenomenology -- 4 The Reflective Method Of The Pure Psychology Of Consciousness -- 5 Concluding On The Ideals Of The Things Themselves -- Part Ii: The Findings On Meaning For Consciousness -- 6 Concluding On Biopsychosocial Essences -- 7 The Being Of Consciousness -- 8 The Pure Psychology Of Meaning -- 9 Consciousness In Its Habitat Of Other Consciousness -- Part Iii: Applying Pure Psychology To Psychotherapy And Mental Health Care -- 10 Formulations Of Intentionality -- 11 On Meta-representation: The Theoretical And Practical Consequences Of Intentionality -- 12 Two Telling Examples About Belief And Time -- 13 A Formulation Of The Ego And Its Context -- 14 Formulating Syndromes -- 15 On Being Unable To Control Variables In Intersubjectivity -- 16 Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Name Index -- Subject Index. By Ian Rory Owen. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Introduction: The Naturalistic Attitude Cannot Grasp Meaning for Consciousness....Pages 1-14 Front Matter....Pages 15-16 Phenomenology and Meaning for Consciousness....Pages 17-31 Two Interpretative Positions in Phenomenology....Pages 33-49 The Reflective Method of the Pure Psychology of Consciousness....Pages 51-67 Concluding on the Ideals of the Things Themselves....Pages 69-88 Front Matter....Pages 89-89 Concluding on Biopsychosocial Essences....Pages 91-111 The Being of Consciousness....Pages 113-141 The Pure Psychology of Meaning....Pages 143-160 Consciousness in Its Habitat of Other Consciousness....Pages 161-187 Front Matter....Pages 189-191 Formulations of Intentionality....Pages 193-211 On Meta-Representation: The Theoretical and Practical Consequences of Intentionality....Pages 213-224 Two Telling Examples About Belief and Time....Pages 225-240 A Formulation of the Ego and its Context....Pages 241-261 Formulating Syndromes....Pages 263-285 On Being Unable to Control Variables in Intersubjectivity....Pages 287-310 Conclusion....Pages 311-315 Back Matter....Pages 317-342