Book Review 2: The Existential Counselling Primer

The Existential Counselling Primer: A Concise Introduction, 2nd edition (2020) By Mick Cooper

The Existential Counselling Primer: A Concise Introduction, 2^nd edition (2020)

By Mick Cooper

123 pages

Introduction

I wish that I read Mick Cooper’s book, The Existential Counselling Primer before any other books on existential psychotherapy. It is a brief, but substantial introduction to it. This book is an enjoyable and readable introduction. He perfectly sums up one of the reasons that I gravitate toward existential psychotherapy, "…the existential emphasis on non-conformity and individuality means that this approach is likely to be more diverse than most" (85). I strongly tend toward independence in my approach, which I think is one of the reasons I resonate with existential psychotherapy.

My original introduction to existential psychotherapy was Irvin Yalom, The Gift of Therapy. It was required reading in my counseling master's and doctoral clinical psychology program. I still like Yalom very much, but now realize that the topic is broader than him alone. Admittedly, I have started reading his Existential Psychotherapy textbook multiple times and still have not completed it. I hope to change that this summer (2023).

More recently, I completed reading Emmy van Deurzen’s Everyday Mysteries: A Handbook of Existential Psychotherapy (see links below). I wanted to gain a historical understanding of existential psychotherapy. Van Deurzen’s book is in-depth and extensive. I read her book for a broader view of Existential Psychotherapy. I was initially going to only read the chapter, “The American Contribution: May, Bugental, Yalom and Others,” but after reading it, I decided not to stop. I will review this book later.

Final Thoughts First

Mick Cooper’s book, The Existential Counselling Primer: A Concise Introduction, 2nd edition, is a great place to start if you are interested in Existential Psychotherapy. He provides an overview of the various approaches to it. Honestly, I did not realize the diversity of approaches among existential psychotherapists until reading van Deurzen, but her book is not the best starting place because it is a textbook, not a popular introduction. Cooper’s book provides an accessible introduction to existential psychotherapies. One can easily read it in one or two sittings.

Some Main takeaways

Cooper begins with the origins of existential psychotherapy (ch. 1). Existential psychotherapy is rooted in philosophers and psychologists from the 19^th and 20^th centuries. It begins with Kierkegaard ad Nietzsche in the 19^th century and continues with a multitude of philosophers, theologians, and psychologists in the 20^th century. A sampling of some recognizable names includes Martin Buber, Paul Tillich, Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, etc. 

Cooper covers the various existential therapies fairly and equitably (ch. 2). With only a knowledge of Yalom, I did not realize that there were 4 primary approaches to existential psychotherapy. From among the origins came 4 primary schools of existential psychotherapy. These are Daseinsanalysis (Heidegger), Meaning-Centered (Frankl), Existential-Humanistic (May), and Laing and the Existential-Phenomenological (van Duerzen). He discusses these schools and then summarizes the main ideas of these schools into 9 dimensions. Also, I appreciate his insight into the present use of these existential approaches. Apart from Daseinsanalysis, it seems that 3 0f the 4 continue to grow in popularity.

Cooper discusses the various aspects of existential psychotherapy on a hard-soft axis. This represents the "harder existentialism, which holds that there are certain truths about the human condition that people need to face up to, to a softer existential position, which holds that all truths, including existential ones, are ultimately only particular perspectives or viewpoints on how the world is" (27). He refers to this axis throughout the book. It provides insight into his discussion of the human being (ch. 3), chronic psychological distress (ch. 4), therapeutic process (ch. 5), therapeutic methods (ch. 6), process of change (ch. 7), issues and applications (ch. 8), and research (ch. 9). As he discusses these topics, Cooper provides a perspective from the harder and softer existential approaches, while acknowledging that his approach is on the softer side.

Cooper demonstrates his soft existential therapeutic approach with the case study (ch. 10). This is an appropriate way to conclude this book. Existential psychotherapists are known for publishing case studies, especially Yalom. He begins by describing his own journey toward the softer existential therapy with an increasing emphasis on the relational. The case illustrates his current approach. Throughout the book, I picked up helpful clinical tips that I will use in future therapeutic work.

Recommendation

If you are looking for a short introductory book about existential psychotherapy, this book would provide an overview. It is a starting place for delving into existential psychotherapy. From this overview, you could then narrow your focus into more specific areas. Cooper’s "The Appendix – Resources for learning" supplies you with further avenues of exploration. He includes Organizations and websites, Journals, Training, Resources, and Further reading (books, lots of books!).

Links (these links are affiliate links)

Mick Cooper, The Existential Counselling Primer, 2^nd ed. (2020): https://amzn.to/463vcEW

Irvin Yalom, The Gift of Therapy: An Open Letter to a New Generation of Therapists and Their Patients (2017): https://amzn.to/3MUXb0O

Irvin Yalom, Existential Psychotherapy (1980): https://amzn.to/3N7Bl8U

Emmy van Deurzen, Everyday Mysteries: A Handbook of Existential Psychotherapy, 2^nd ed. (2010): https://amzn.to/3NgUSX1