Therapy and the Counter-tradition

Therapy & the Counter-tradition: The Edge of Philosophy brings together leading exponents of contemporary psychotherapy, philosophers and writers, to explore how philosophical ideas may inform therapy work. Each author discusses a particular philosopher who has influenced their life and therapeutic practice, while questioning how counselling and psychotherapy can address human 'wholeness', despite the ascendancy of rationality, regulation and diagnosis. It also seeks to acknowledge the distinct lack of philosophical input and education in counselling and psychotherapy training. The chapters are rooted in the Counter-Tradition, whose diverse manifestations include humanism, skepticism, fideism, as well as the opening of philosophy and psychology to poetry and the arts. This collection of thought-provoking essays will help open the discussion within the psychological therapies, by providing therapists with critical philosophical references, which will help broaden their knowledge and the scope of their practice. Therapy & the Counter-tradition: The Edge of Philosophy will be of interest to mental health professionals, practitioners, counselling and psychotherapy trainees and trainers, and academics tutoring or studying psychology. It will also appeal to those interested in psychology, meditation, personal development and philosophy.

Manu Bazzano is a psychotherapist and supervisor in private practice and visiting lecturer at various schools and colleges, most notably Roehampton University. He teaches philosophy in adult education and has a background in rock music and Zen Buddhism. Bazzano has authored numerous books, and is co-editor of Person-Centred and Experiential Psychotherapies, as well as book review editor of Self & Society - international Journal for Humanistic Psychology. www.manubazzano.com Julie Webb (MA; MBACP) has a background in training, literature and philosophy. She is a counselling lecturer at University Campus Suffolk and a Humanistic Counsellor and Supervisor in private practice in Cambridge. She has previously had an established private practice in Shrewsbury and worked as a counselling lecturer for 5 years at Shrewsbury College of Arts & Technology, offering training and CPD. She is currently a registered visiting lecturer. www.juliewebbcounselling.com

Part 1 The Threshold Experience 1. 'Changelings': The Self in Nietzsche's Psychology Manu Bazzano 2. What can Therapists learn from Kierkegaard? John Lippitt 3. John Keats and Negative Capability: The Psychotherapist's X factor? Diana Voller 4. That Piece of Supreme Art, a Man's Life Nick Duffell 5. Tears of Joy: Pascal's 'Night of Fire' Subhaga Gaetano Failla Part 2 Ethics and Politics 6. Who am I? You tell me: Desire and Judith Butler Julie Webb 7. The Liberation Psychologist: A Tribute to Jean-Paul Sartre Richard Pearce 8. Instances of Liberation in Rousseau Federico Battistutta .9 A Metaphysical Rebellion: Camus and Psychotherapy James Belassie Part 3 Self, Other, World 10. Desire-Delirium: Notes on Deleuze and Therapy Manu Bazzano 11. A Poetry of Human Relations: Merleau-Ponty and Psychotherapy Paul Gordon 12. This Culture of Me: On Singularity, Secrecy and Ethics Eugenia Lapteva 13. Energy Ethics and the Thought of Difference in Luce Irigaray Federico Battistutta Part 4 Therapy, Language, Metaphysics 14. Under Arrest: Wittgenstein and Perspicuity Julie Webb 15. A Penetrating Beam of Darkness John Mackessy 16. Lifting the Curse: Wittgenstein, Buddhism and Psychotherapy Jeff Harrison 17. Amor Fati: Suffering to Become the Person One is Devang Vaidya