Book Review: Existential Perspectives on Relationship Therapy

This is a very thorough rundown, with its seventeen chapters and twenty-three contributors. The introduction by the two editors makes the point that little has been written about relationships from an existential standpoint, so that this is an important and groundbreaking contribution.

They show that Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, Buber, Jaspers and Levinas all had a good deal to say about relationships. The first chapter, by Emmy, shows good handling of a difficult case. The next chapter seems oddly incomplete, as if there is something missing. Chapter 3, by Naomi Stadlen, has a good discussion of some tricky issues. The next one struck as very technical, a bit too much so. The next chapter, by Betty Cannon and Reed Lindberg, seemed excellent and quotes Sartre to good effect. Chapter 10, on the challenge of ethics and the call to responsibility, is a strong chapter with an interesting case illustration.

It would be tedious to go through all the chapters in this long book. Chapter 16, by Simon du Plock, on couples presenting with issues of addiction, I thought particularly good. He says that 'anything can be addictive which powerfully and quickly and predictably changes how you feel'.

There are not many books on the existential approach to therapy – in fact, this is the only one I could find on Amazon. Strongly recommended.

John Rowan