Existential therapy. Background[edit] The starting point of existential philosophy (see Warnock, 1970; Macquarrie, 1972; Mace, 1999; Van Deurzen and Kenward, 2005) can be traced back to the nineteenth century and the work of Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche. Both were in conflict with the predominant ideologies of their time and committed to the exploration of reality as it can be experienced in a passionate and personal manner.
Kierkegaard (1813–55) protested vigorously against popular misunderstanding and abuse of Christian dogma and the so-called 'objectivity' of science (Kierkegaard, 1841, 1844). He thought that both were ways of avoiding the anxiety inherent in human existence. He had great contempt for the way in which life was being lived by those around him and believed that truth could ultimately only be discovered subjectively by the individual in action. Nietzsche (1844–1900) took this philosophy of life a step further. Development in Britain[edit] Psychological dysfunction[edit] Irvin D. Yalom: Szerelemhóhér és más pszichoterápiás történetek. Yalom címke // isolde olvasónaplója. Existential therapy. Irvin D. Yalom. Irvin David Yalom M.D. (born 13 June 1931) is an American existential psychiatrist who is emeritus professor of psychiatry at Stanford University, as well as author of both fiction and nonfiction.
Early life[edit] Yalom was born in Washington DC.[1] About fifteen years prior to his birth in the United States, Yalom's parents immigrated from Russia and eventually opened a Washington DC grocery store on 1st Street and Seaton Place. Yalom spent much of his childhood reading books in the family house above the grocery store and in a local library. After graduating from high school, he attended George Washington University and then Boston University School of Medicine. Career[edit] In addition to his scholarly, non-fiction writing, Yalom has produced a number of novels and also experimented with writing techniques. Yalom has continued to maintain a part-time private practice and has authored a number of video documentaries on therapeutic techniques. He is married to Marilyn Yalom. Awards[edit]