Supervision Essentials for Existential–Humanistic Therapy

Existential–Humanistic (E–H) approaches have a long and rich tradition in psychotherapy. Grounded in a philosophical tradition that emphasizes the transformation of objective experience into subjective meaning, E–H therapists offer an appreciation of the unique perspective we bring to our worlds, and try to identify and illuminate the protective patterns that both constrict and support our survival.

In this concise guide, authors Krug and Schneider show readers how to apply the principles of E–H therapy to the practice of clinical supervision. With the skillful use of case examples — including excerpts from Dr. Schneider's companion DVD, Existential–Humanistic Psychotherapy Supervision, also available from APA Books — the authors demonstrate how E–H supervisors can embody the key ingredients of the E–H therapeutic approach, including empathy, acceptance, and genuineness, in order to create safe, collaborative, and supportive relationships with clients.

E–H supervisors teach trainees how to enter their clients' self-constructed worlds, using their own personal contexts to develop responsiveness to clients, while also cultivating the "presence" that enables genuine encounters and real therapeutic change.

Foreword to the Clinical Supervision Essentials Series

Introduction

1. Essential Dimensions of Supervision, Consultation, and Training in Existential–Humanistic Therapy
2. Teaching Models, Methods, and Techniques in Existential–Humanistic Therapy
3. Case Illustrations: Excerpts From a Transcript of Two Supervisory Sessions
4. Handling Common Training/Consultation Issues
5. Supervisory Development and Self-Care
6. Research and Support for the Existential–Humanistic Training Approach
7. Future Directions

Suggested Readings

Appendix A: EHI Certificate Program Pre-Program Questionnaire for the Foundations Certificate

Appendix B: EHI Certificate Program Post-Program Questionnaire

Appendix C: Summary Case Notes

Appendix D: Working With Dreams From an Existential–Humanistic Perspective

References

Index

About the Authors

Orah T. Krug, PhD, has been clinical director of training and education at the Existential–Humanistic Institute of San Francisco (EHI) since its inception in 1997, where she oversees its educational offerings, developing the curriculum and the programmatic structures for the varied training programs.

Dr. Krug leads the faculty and supervises the teachers-in-training at the experiential retreats, in Sonoma County CA. Information about the educational programs are available on the Existential–Humanistic Institute websiteopens in new window. She also maintains a private practice in Oakland and Sausalito, CA, is an adjunct faculty member of Saybrook University, and is an editor for the Journal of Humanistic Psychology. In addition to this text, she and Kirk Schneider co-authored Existential–Humanistic Therapy (2010), which is part of APA's Theories of Psychotherapy Series.

Kirk J. Schneider, PhD, a leading spokesperson for contemporary existential–humanistic psychology, is a graduate of Saybrook University, where he was mentored by James Bugental and Rollo May.

Dr. Schneider is the president APA Division 32 (Society for Humanistic Psychology, 2015–2016), recent past editor of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology (2005–2012), cofounder and vice president of the Existential–Humanistic Institute, and adjunct faculty at Saybrook University and Teachers College, Columbia University.

His previous books include The Paradoxical Self, Rediscovery of Awe, Awakening to Awe, Existential–Integrative Psychotherapy, Existential–Humanistic Therapy (with Orah Krug), and The Polarized Mind.

Dr. Schneider's primary interests are helping to broaden the therapeutic field through the individual and collective applications of existential–integrative practice and the spirituality of awe, or the humility and wonder, and sense of adventure toward living.

• Existential–Humanistic Psychotherapy Supervision
  

  This DVD demonstrates the existential-humanistic approach to psychotherapy supervision. In addition, the host interviews the therapist and his supervisee about their work together, as they discuss highlights from the demonstration session.