Ep. 17 with Kirk Schneider, Ph.D. : Existential-Integrative Approach

Dr. Kirk J. Schneider is a leading spokesperson for existentialism and pioneers the existential-integrative approach to therapy. He has authored or coauthored twelve books, with his latest book called Life-enhancing anxiety: key to a sane world. Several of his works have been translated into multiple languages. He is the president of the Existential-Humanistic Institute (EHI), adjunct faculty at Saybrook University and Teachers College at Columbia University. He is also the recipient of Honorary Diplomas and Memberships from The Society for Existential Analysis, The East European Association for Existential Therapy; and the Living Institute.Today we begin by touching on the Dr. Schneiders definition of existentialism, as well as elaborating on the Existential-Integrative or EI approach. We talk about the evidence behind it. Then we then delve into his idea of presence, and invoking the actual. This is followed by a comparative analysis looking into how EI incorporates psychoanalytic ideas and techniques into its framework. We then discuss how conditions may be viewed through the lens of constriction and expansion, as well as their associated dreads. We talk about anxiety as an example and transition into his idea of life-enhancing anxiety, and how to cultivate awe. We further chat about his views of meaning, metaphysics, new projects he is working on and reflections on his time with Rollo May and James and Elizabeth Bugental. As is CNC tradition, we end with rapid fire questions to learn more about Dr. Scheider as a person. Feel free to skip around if any of these are of interest to you.Personal website: www.drchancnc.comGuest website: https://kirkjschneider.com/ https://www.corpsofdepthhealers.com/