Latest News & Posts

Society for Humanistic Psychology Student Ambassador Meeting

Recently the Existential-Humanistic Institute’s Clinical Co Directors, Nance Reynolds, PhD, LCSW and Kirk Schneider, PhD were invited to introduce the Existential-Humanistic Institute (EHI) to the Student Ambassadors of The Society for Humanistic Psychology (Div. 32 of the APA).  EHI’s Clinical Co Directors Meet with Div 32 Student Ambassadors The Society for Humanistic PsychologyFall, 2024 The Student Ambassador group, founded and

Read More »
The Existential Moment typographic logo

The Existential Moment: Accepting Fear and Anxiety

It was a dark, windless night in upstate New York in 1790; the only sound was the pounding of hooves on the narrow path. A schoolteacher, heart racing, galloped through the dense forest as shadows closed in and branches clawed at him. He urged his horse faster, but the sound of another rider continued to grow closer, louder with each

Read More »
The Existential Moment typographic logo

The Existential Moment: Presence and Transformation

Just as the Pullman workers faced their harsh reality, we are often called to ask ourselves: “How am I presently living?” Often, this question arises from feelings of despair. In existential-humanistic therapy, awareness is the first step toward transformation . Presence means coming into contact with uncomfortable truths and recognizing patterns or conditions that no longer serve us. This awareness reveals what holds us back and opens the door to change. One key role as therapists is helping our clients come into this presence.

Read More »
The Existential Moment typographic logo

The Existential Moment: Presence

In Flanders FieldsBy John McCrae In Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below.We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lie,In Flanders fields What do you notice? August marks

Read More »

New Article on Polarization by Kirk Schneider

The Real Problem of Our Civil and Electoral Strife A Personal Perspective: Our main adversary is the polarized mind. Kirk Schneider has just published a new article on political polarization and the “perilous instability in our country that goes well beyond Biden and Trump” on his PsychologyToday blog, Awakening to Awe. KEY POINTS Read the full article on Kirk’s blog

Read More »
The Existential Moment typographic logo

The Existential Moment: Supporting and Celebrating Freedom

“The road to freedom is a difficult, hard road.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

These words resonate deeply as we reflect on the significance of Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed of their emancipation, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. This day, now celebrated as a national holiday, Juneteenth, symbolizes the long and arduous journey toward freedom for African Americans and the ongoing struggle for equality and justice.

Juneteenth is more than just a historical milestone; it is a celebration of freedom and a reminder of the resilience and strength of those who fought tirelessly for their liberation. As we observe Juneteenth this month, we are called to recognize the importance of meeting our past and embracing the present in our journey toward freedom.

Read More »
Existential Movement logo of a tree superimposed over a globe in deep gold/bronze color

Experiential Democracy Dialogue w/ Kirk Schneider

Join The Existential Movement in partnership with OnlineEvents.co.uk for a transformative workshop led by Dr. Kirk Schneider, a prominent figure in existential-humanistic and existential-integrative psychology. In this session, Dr. Schneider will unveil and demonstrate the Experiential Democracy Dialogue, a pioneering method he has developed to counteract the deep-seated and perilous polarization affecting our societies and the wider world. This polarization is not only widespread but also represents one of the most pressing social and psychological challenges of our time. Dr. Schneider advocates for an urgent, depth, and existentially oriented approach to healing.

Read More »
Existential-Humanistic Institute typographic logo for 2023

New Salon: Examining the Limitations to Presence

On June 25th, EHI Is hosting a 90-minute virtual community space for contacting and cultivating therapeutic presence. Personal, relational, and cosmological aspects are considered in group discussion, practical demonstration, dyad practice, and will be flexible in nature to follow prerogatives emergent from the group.

Read More »
The Existential Moment typographic logo

The Existential Moment: The “Good Enough Mother”

The “good enough mother” (later “good enough parent”) concept is not just a cute catchphrase but a powerful view into the parent-child relationship. It describes a mother who provides an environment that meets the child’s needs adequately but not perfectly, allowing the child to experience and manage frustration in a safe setting. This approach, often overlooked or assumed, plays a pivotal role in helping children develop resilience and independence as they learn that the world will not always cater to their needs immediately or perfectly. Winnicott argued that being a ‘good enough mother’ is crucial for healthy emotional and psychological development, as it balances care and challenge, enabling children to grow into well-rounded adults.

Read More »
The Existential Moment typographic logo

The Existential Moment – Focus on the Interpersonal

Say what comes to your mind!

Researchers have unveiled a powerful adaptation of the classic Rorschach inkblot test in a groundbreaking development that some say is set to revolutionize therapeutic diagnostics. Dubbed “The Existential Rorschach,” this innovative tool is designed not only to probe the depths of the unconscious but to directly confront individuals with existential angst and the most profound existential givens: the inevitability of death, the quest for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe, the terror of freedom, and the weight of personal responsibility. Using computational models based on chaos math and non-linear dynamics theory, a carefully curated series of AI-generated inkblots resembles cosmic disorder and the intricate patterns of life.

Read More »

Recent E-H Therapy Articles

Recommended New Articles on E-H Therapy To Be or Not to Be: Engage with Life or Retreat from It By Bob Edelstein, LMFTPsychologyToday on March 13, 2024 Bob Edelstein has a new article navigating the ongoing struggle to grapple with or withdraw from life. Key points: Read the whole article from Bob’s PsychologyToday blog, Authentic Engagement. Existential Therapy for Existential Times

Read More »
The Existential Moment typographic logo

The Existential Moment – The Ides of March

Historically, “The Ides of March” is best known as the date, March 15, 44 BC, when a group of Roman senators, including Brutus and Cassius, assassinated Julius Caesar. The event marked a significant turning point in Roman history, leading to the end of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.

Over time, “The Ides of March” became a metaphor for impending doom or betrayal, mainly due to the cultural impact of Shakespeare’s play. Now, the term can be used in various contexts as a reminder of the unpredictability of fate and the potential for sudden, unexpected, and tragic changes in life’s circumstances. It urges caution and awareness of potential dangers lurking around what might seem like any other day.

Read More »
Logo for DIV32 of the APA- The Society of Humanistic Psychology

The Society of Humanistic Psychology 17th Annual Conference

How can humanistic psychology actualize itself today to meet the needs of a fast-paced, distracted, survival-focused, experientially-avoidant, interpersonally-isolated, rating- and metric-centered, systems-blind, toxically-masculine, xenophobic, inequitized, traumatized, polarized, technocratic, post-truth, post-pandemic society-in-transition? Paradoxically, to accomplish that undertaking, “Old Saybrook 3” also celebrates the wisdom of our elders and reminds us not to turn a blind eye to their rich and enriching intellectual and experiential contributions. How might we demonstrate that humanistic psychology is, far from being a mere historical relic, well-equipped in its core values and theory/philosophy, pluralistic methods, and robust, decades-long canon of research/scholarship to resonate with the 2020s zeitgeist? And, with that, what can we do to promote an I-Thou way of being in an increasingly I-It world?

Read More »
The Existential Moment typographic logo

The Existential Moment: Micro-skills: Reflecting

Reflection is a bit like the work of the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. We mirror or reflect our client’s experience—the content presented, the process or experience in the moment (e.g., nonverbals, tone, pattern of speech, etc.), self and world constructs (e.g., “I am…”), protective patterns and inner tensions, and core vulnerabilities or wounds.

Read More »
  • Search EHI's Blog

    Ongoing series on Existential & Humanistic therapy

    Get Updates

    Join our mailing list and get the latest in news and events.

    Blog Archives