Existential Dialogues: "A Chorus of Voices"
Topic: "Humanistic" between Prof. Ernesto Spinelli and Prof. Kirk Schneider
“I will speak about the existential-humanistic (EH) tradition in psychology and how it informs contemporary existential-humanistic and existential-integrative (EI) therapy. This EH/EI tradition draws chiefly on U.S.theorists, such as Rollo May, James Bugental, Irv Yalom, and peripherally, Carl Rogers, and Abraham Maslow. I will highlight core dimensions of this EH/EI tradition beginning with its importation from Europe, the critical and newly explicated role of Otto Rank, the distinctive emphasis on embodiment, here and now presence, practicality, relationality, human possibilities, and awe-based consciousness. I will also explore recent applications of the EH/EI perspective for “emotionally restorative relationships” in our larger world of societies.” Prof. Kirk Schneider.
Kirk J. Schneider, Ph.D. is a leading spokesperson for existential-humanistic and existential-integrative psychology, an adjunct faculty member at Saybrook University and formerly, Teachers College, Columbia University, and a cofounder and current president of the Existential-Humanistic Institute. Dr. Schneider is a Fellow in seven Divisions of the APA, the recipient of the Rollo May Award from Division 32 of the APA for “Outstanding and Independent Pursuit of New Frontiers in Humanistic Psychology,” and the author/coauthor of 15 books. Among these are The Psychology of Existence (with Rollo May), Existential-Integrative Psychotherapy, Existential-Humanistic Therapy (with Orah Krug), Awakening to Awe, and Life-Enhancing Anxiety.
Recommended readings for “Humanistic”:
My introduction to The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology (2015 edition, Sage; with Fraser Pierson and James Bugental).
Existential-Humanistic Therapy (3rd Edition, 2026; with Orah Krug).
Life-Enhancing Anxiety: Key to a Sane World (2023). University Professors Press.
Existential-Integrative Psychotherapy: Guideposts to the Core of Practice (2015, paperback edition). Routledge.
Awakening to Awe: Personal Stories of Profound Transformation. Jason Aronson.
Visit our website to see the Full Programme.
