Ernesto Spinelli on Existential Therapy: a Personal Reflection on its Defining Features

[@salettegressett973]

I was one of those students in that first class in London on Phenomenology as mentioned at the beginning of this interview. (As a 20 yr old psychology novice, I struggled with, yet was intrigued by Husserl as well). His class blew my mind and he remains- 30 years on- one of the most influential teachers in my life. Thank you Dr. Spinelli

[@bridietulloch1520]

Reading ‘Tales of Un-Knowing’ by Spinelli was my introduction to existential therapy when I was training. We learned about the existential approach although the training was Pluralistic so focused on many modalities with a particular focus on client preferences and collaboration with the client. For me, existential approach is about the stance the therapist takes, which is distinctly different from other modalities, because the client is the expert in their own lives.

[@liloleist5133]

"With the really important issues FOLLOW YOUR HEART."😊

[@jacheesman21]

Full of good insights and honesty. An interesting and in my view highly articulate man. The kind of therapist I would like to have (and I am a therapist).

[@chachi958-rg8ju]

Really wish this channel was still active.

[@DolceVents]

This was a fantastic interview! Thank you for sharing!!! I love that R.D. Laing quote about the self!

[@lucapanseri9223]

Beautiful interview. I love his humbleness and openness to the unknown. Many thanks. Luca

[@stefanhansen5882]

GREAT interview, Alexandre! You ask wonderful questions.

[@psychotherapyexperttalks4832]

Thanks Stefan!

[@mp-pl8rw]

True, great questions !

[@fromprudence]

"Go with the body" 진짜 너무 멋있는 말이에요

[@gallevran]

Such an intelligent interview, wonderful questions. And of course love the answers, which resonate perfectly. TY 🙏🏼

[@joshuab1858]

Great conversation. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@psychotherapyexperttalks4832]

Thanks Joshua!

[@totalcontrol4205]

I am going to start my masters in psychology in a year. My interest area is dissociative mechanisms, consciousness and self-awareness. Love listening to these types of videos. Thank you for sharing.

[@totalcontrol4205]

Ah, yes, a year ago, when my mother didn't have leukemia, dying and I wasn't being abused by a psychologically damaged nephew. Best laid plans of men and mice.

[@adrianp1822]

@@totalcontrol4205 The realm of necessity vs The realm of freedom. I'd wish you good luck, but there is no such thing

[@MrPaddymarley]

Thank you both! A fascinating interview and highly valued by me!

[@danielwatson732]

Thank you for sharing this interesting interview. I am a psychologist in training and I also share a similar fascination with learning about the development of other therapists.

[@joelmasantos879]

An elegant truck driver, thanks for the lift.

[@robindeanna1323]

This makes total sense to me. I don't feel that the 4 pillars of existentialism resonate with me, it's the concept of grappling with complex systems and what that tells me about myself, who I am, what I believe in and what the future holds for me.

[@UPCOWEBINARS]

Wonderful Interview! Thank you both

[@louagosta]

An impressive contribution. An excellent, insight conversation. I was touched and moved by the example of the woman whose Mom had Alzheimer's and (in short) they both had a breakthrough in relatedness when the daughter gave up her attachment to getting credit for being the daughter and was open to "being with" her Mom. Then her Mom starts talking about her (the Mom's) daughter to the daughter [without realizing she was the daughter] and the daughter heard how important she was to her Mom and got the acknowledgement she so greatly cherished. The power of openness - being without history. Definitely.Find out how to get into such a space. Check it out!

[@svmcelligott]

Lou Agosta that story about the mom was a replica of my story with my mother and we connected on a level that was not possible before she got dementia. I will always be grateful for those last moments with her.

[@psychotherapyexperttalks4832]

Thanks Lou -- I was also very struck by that particular example. Very powerful! - Alex

[@polymathpark]

The more I learn about existential therapy, the more I see it to be the best way to proceed, for it addresses overarching paradigms and perennial problems that consistently plague people, whereas other forms attempt to treat the side effects of those paradigms.

[@stephanieklewin5603]

Well put!!

[@DrMarioGuzman]

Great interview, however, as a psychologist in a different psychological tradition, I have a question for you that I hope you can help me clarify. If the client is always right, what is the purpose of his attending therapy? If he is right, why doesn't feel that way and seeks help in a psychotherapeutic process? Thank you for your amazing work with these interviews, they have been a great help to my students.

[@shawnmuench]

My knee jerk: You point "the client is always right" at the choice of therapy , but "the client is always right" is meant to refer within the exchange. I'm just some guy btw haha Take care friend!

[@TheNormallyOpen]

I think it is a question of perspective and awareness, the client is always right - but they may be limiting their experience, they may have become rigid in their thoughts and behaviour. They are right, at that moment and with the resources that they perceive are available at that moment, the therapist can help them put things in to perspective.

[@raffaello333]

great video, i am searching for the last quote about finding self, any clues ?

[@9000ck]

This guy is a quiet genius.

[@SueFlay88]

Great ❤

[@simonaschmidt]

No you don't come across as a truck driver but as a very sweet, sensitive man. :)

[@ml-ec5dw]

'The Relational Self!'

[@yod63]

If you are interested in the subject have a look on Emmy Van Deurzen. She is great.

[@psychotherapyexperttalks4832]

Agree! Also check out Mick Cooper's "Existential Therapies" book, which is a fantastic primer.

[@januspatermagnus]

To dismiss transference this way is to misunderstand it. Even in the most rigid of places (traditional psychoanalytic literature) not everything can be dismissed as transference and it's simply not an accurate description of transference to say "the client isn't really talking to me but to her mother". I would honestly expect a prominent figure such as Spinelli to have a more nuanced and accurate understanding of transference even (and especially) if he aims to reject it as a relevant concept.

[@bridietulloch1520]

I’m not sure that he did dismiss transference. He made a statement that questioned it but I wouldn’t say he dismissed it. I think Spinelli was pointing to the stance of working existentially whereby you don’t make assumptions about the client.

[@januspatermagnus]

@@bridietulloch1520 But is that a realistic possibility? To enter into an encounter with no assumptions?

[@bridietulloch1520]

@@januspatermagnus you might have assumptions coming into your awareness but you bracket them. I’d probably question any assumptions I might have because they are exactly that, assumptions, and not necessarily anything to do with the truth of the client. Otherwise you are not fully present with the client.

[@januspatermagnus]

@bridietulloch1520 But what is inovative about that? That is precisely what any psychoanalyst would do - only Freud didn't quote Husserl.

[@bridietulloch1520]

@@januspatermagnus I’m not a psychoanalyst. I don’t analyse my clients, I enter into a collaborative relationship with them. An innovative and creative one where the client is the expert in their own life, after all they are the ones who have experienced what they have experienced. I’m a Pluralistic counsellor so it’s a highly innovative approach that involves taking an ethical stance that respects the client and minimises power imbalances.

[@simonaschmidt]

I saw one of Ernesto's cats :)

[@ml-ec5dw]

Socrates said "I know that I know nothing." Spenilli 'un-knowing!'

[@bridietulloch1520]

Perfect stance for a therapist to understand the world of the client. The client knows their world but I know nothing of it because I have not walked in it. The client is the expert in their own life. I’m a fellow traveller walking with them for part of the journey.

[@danielrecznik6728]

That is most definitely the creakiest chair in the world

[@RayReklaw7993]

F*** that loud ping at the beginning, my ears!

[@psychotherapyexperttalks4832]

Sorry about that Alexander! I'll make sure to lower it in future videos :)

[@alihilmi]

Yes it's horribly disturbing my ears saor.. shame on you !

[@Me_ThatsWho]

15:51 And that is the fundamental problem with existential approaches. It really is a fundamental error. And quite probably, a defensive stance. And a straw man argument as no one is denying the reality of the here-and-now interaction COEXISTING with the transference.

[@zingy2323]

Arrogance personified