Series of discussions, dialogues and conversations between Prof Ernesto Spinelli and International existential therapists.
Existential dialogue between Prof Ernesto Spinelli and Dr Ken Bradford. Topic: “Radical Authenticity”. Book here >
About this event
“Existential therapy is a wide ranging arena, with many perspectives and different views that also, fundamentally, share an attitude expressing a way of thinking and being with people. Representatives of the existential approach from different parts of the world have agreed to engage in an open-format discussion with me. Each of them will bring their own particular topic of interest as the focus for the discussion. From these, participants will hopefully see that existential therapy and existential thought, in general, cover a huge range of topics, viewpoints and perspectives and explore these in a way that it is different, stimulating and enjoyable.” Prof Ernesto Spinelli
Radical Authenticity
“General Existential thought recognises inauthenticity as the all too human compulsion to manage anxieties by living someone else’s life – as a theyself – rather than our own. Psychological authenticity is won by daring to live our own life through accepting our true desires and aversions. On this basis, radical Existential and Buddhist psychology recognise that a more profound authentic presence is possible. They observe there is a more basic – quite normal and innocent – split in human consciousness that divides perceived objects and others “out there” from a perceiving subject “in here.” This underlying predicament is the famous object-subject split that dominates our mind by confusing our objectivizing projections for reality as it is. Pitting self against other, us against them, conscious reason against unconscious compulsion, the everyday divided mind (self) oscillates between moments of self-infatuation and self-hatred. Everyday dualistic vision reifies the flux of experience to the extent that we identify our self as a being separate from being as such. This makes for an ontological inauthenticity that – everyday – affects our psychological well-being. The compulsive striving to defend and promote ourself as a self-grounded entity severs us from the ground and innate well-being of a more radical undivided authenticity.” Dr Ken Bradford
About Prof Ernesto Spinelli
“An internationally-recognised leader in existential therapy and coaching psychology, Professor Ernesto Spinelli developed and taught the first psychology undergraduate and PhD programmes to focus on counselling and psychotherapy research. He has contributed to a growing interest in, and professional appreciation of, existential therapeutic techniques.
Professor Spinelli publications and textbooks are standard reading for many psychotherapies and coaching training programmes around the world. His book, Practising Existential Therapy: The Relational World, 2nd edition (2015), was identified as the most influential contemporary text on existential therapeutic practice.” BPS
About Dr. Ken Bradford
Dr Ken Bradford, PhD is a Clinical Psychologist, teacher, author and contemplative yogin integrating Buddhist and radical Existential thought and practice. On this basis, he developed an ontologically-keyed practice of Contemplative-Existential Therapy, which he formerly taught and practiced in the San Francisco Bay area, including as an Adjunct Professor at John F. Kennedy University and the California Institute of Integral Studies. His publications include numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, most recently on ‘Radical Authenticity’; ‘Non-self Psychology’; and ‘Drawing from a Deeper Well: Contemplative Asian Sources of Radical Existential Thought’. His books include, The I of the Other: Mindfulness-Based Diagnosis & the Question of Sanity; Listening from the Heart of Silence: Nondual Wisdom and Psychotherapy, Vol. 2 (with John Prendergast); and Opening Yourself: The Psychology and Yoga of Self-liberation (currently in press).
(This Dialogue is part of “Existential Dialogues”. You can book each dialogue independently for £40 – book in Eventbrite or the ten dialogues for £300 book here)
PROGRAMME:
Dr MANU BAZZANO “Therapy and the Daimonic” (22 January)
Dr KATERINA ZYMNIS “Diving into the Co-Created World of the Psychotherapeutic Encounter” (19 February)
Dr TODD DUBOSE “The Power of Phenomenological Openness” (19 March)
Dr MICHAEL MONTGOMERY “Reconciling the Past” (23 April)
Dr YAQUI MARTINEZ “Challenges to Existential Therapeutic Practice”(21 May)
BÁRBARA GODOY “Brainstorming the Basis of an Existential Laboratory” (18 June)
Dr BETTY CANNON “In the Spirit of Play: Toward a Psychology of Freedom” (23 July)
Dr GREG MADISON “Is Existence the Same as Experience in Existential Therapy?” (15 October)
Dr XUEFU WANG “Zhimian: an Existential Approach as Viewed from Chinese Culture” (19 November)
Dr KEN BRADFORD “Radical Authenticity” (17 December)
