Existential Dialogue: In Search between Prof S. du Plock & Prof E. Spinelli

A phenomenological method for existential seekers.

One of the ten live dialogues between Prof Ernesto Spinelli and International Existential Therapists which clearly illustrate their own personal journey intertwined with the method of the investigation. We are looking to highlight the role of the researcher as an existential seeker.

“I will present a research study of my own to illustrate how a personal journey, and the method of investigation used, can intertwine and inform each other in creative ways. I will suggest that existential-phenomenological therapists are ideally positioned to generate forms of research grounded in such first-person experience and naïve inquiry. We will see that the early stages of this inquiry mirror the process of reflection and analysis to be found in the practice of existential therapy. The notion of the neutral, objective researcher is as problematic as the notion of the neutral, objective therapist. In both cases, the illumination they can provide depends upon who they are – or perhaps where they are – in relation to the client or the research topic. But if we reject the possibility of being a neutral investigator, we need to describe clearly our own research trajectory in relation to the experience under investigation. Ruth Behar, writing about ‘humanistic anthropology’, states that researchers who locate themselves within their own projects forfeit the defensive position of ‘scientific observer’:
“Writing vulnerability takes as much skill, nuance, and willingness to follow through on all the ramifications of a complicated idea as does writing invulnerably and distantly.”* My inquiry offers an example of researcher vulnerability and helps us reflect on the extent to which any researcher’s personal journey can be the catalyst for rigorous systematic inquiry.” Prof Simon du Plock

*Behar, R. (1996). The Vulnerable Observer: Anthropology That Breaks Your Heart. Boston: Beacon Press

Professor Simon du Plock is Senior Research Fellow at the Metanoia Institute, London. He was Head of the Faculty of Post-Qualification and Professional Doctorates at the Institute from 2007 to 2020, in which role he directed counselling psychology and psychotherapy research doctorates jointly with Middlesex University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Medicine, a Foundation Member with Senior Practitioner Status of the BPS Register of Psychologists Specialising in Psychotherapy, and a Member of the BPS Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors. He has been a BPS Chartered Counselling Psychologist and UKCP Registered Psychotherapist since 1994.
He has authored nearly one hundred journal papers and book chapters on existential therapy, and he has co-edited Existential Analysis, the Journal of the British Society for Existential Analysis, since 1993. He was an editor of the 2019 Wiley World Handbook of Existential Therapy. He has lectured and trained internationally, and in 2006 he was made an Honorary Member of the East European Association for Existential Therapy in recognition of his contribution to cooperation between West and East Europe in the development of existential psychotherapy.
His clinical and research interests include phenomenological research methodology, clinical and research supervision, existential pedagogy, and working with issues of addiction and dependency.

Professor Ernesto Spinelli was Chair of the Society for Existential Analysis between 1993 and 1999 and is a Life Member of the Society. His writings, lectures and seminars focus on the application of existential phenomenology to the arenas of therapy, supervision, psychology, and executive coaching. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS) as well as an APECS accredited executive coach and coaching supervisor. In 2000, he was the Recipient of BPS Division of Counselling Psychology Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Profession. And in 2019, Ernesto received the BPS Award for Distinguished Contribution to Practice. His most recent book, Practising Existential Therapy: The Relational World 2nd edition (Sage, 2015) has been widely praised as a major contribution to the advancement of existential theory and practice. Living up to the existential dictum that life is absurd, Ernesto is also the author of an on-going series of Private Eye novels.

Date and Time: Saturday 23 November from 2 pm to 3 pm – UK time)

Individual Dialogue Fee: £40

Venue: Online Zoom

FULL PROGRAMME 2024:

Ten Saturdays 2 pm to 5 pm (UK time)

27 Jan. “Placebo” with Prof Ernesto Spinelli and Barbara Godoy

24 Feb. “Reflexivity” with Prof Carla Willig and Prof Ernesto Spinelli

23 March “Homecoming” with Prof R. Romanyshyn and Prof Ernesto Spinelli

27 April “Ungraspable” with Dr Todd Dubose and Prof Ernesto Spinelli

18 May “Homelessness” with Dr Greg Madison and Prof Ernesto Spinelli

22 Jun. “Psychedelics” with Dr Yaqui Martinez and Prof Ernesto Spinelli

20 Jul. “Anxiety” with Prof Kirk Schneider and Prof Ernesto Spinelli

26 Oct. “Intentionality” with Dr Betty Cannon and Prof Ernesto Spinelli

23 Nov. “Vulnerability” with Prof Simon du Plock and Prof Ernesto Spinelli

12 Dec. “Enacting” with Bárbara Godoy and Prof Ernesto Spinelli

Read the full programme here >

Course Organised by:

Host or Publisher Therapy Harley Street