EHI-Saybrook Certificate in the Foundations of Existential-Humanistic Practice

Certificate Program Director: Orah T. Krug, Ph.D.

The Existential-Humanistic Institute and Saybrook University are pleased to announce a new and unprecedented certificate program leading to a Certificate in the Foundations of Existential-Humanistic Practice.

Introduction
Leading therapy researcher Bruce Wampold suggests that “an understanding of the principles of existential therapy is needed by all therapists, as it adds a perspective that might
…form the basis for all effective treatments” (Wampold cited in PsycCritiques, February 6, 2008, p.6).

Wampold’s findings along with others place E-H therapy not on the fringe but squarely at the center of psychological theory and practice as the field formulates new assumptions about what constitutes the core of practice. The intention of this certificate program is to provide students with such a foundational core that focuses on both theory and skill development.
The theoretical part focuses on existential-humanistic therapy in general and a study of two of its founders, Rollo May and James Bugental in particular. An overarching assumption of existential-humanistic therapy is that it is the client’s in the moment experiencing that forms both the underlying and actual process in therapy. This assumption anchors the existential therapist in the principles of practice that focus on experience over explanation and process over content.
Thus the skill-development part focuses on learning to: (a) identify meaning-making processes unfolding in the present moment, (b) illuminate these “actual but often unrecognized” processes by cultivating intrapsychic and interpersonal presence, (c) develop a safe and intimate therapeutic relationship, (d) recognize and work with existential life issues which may be present but disguised, and (e) recognize and work with transference and counter transference issues within an existential framework.

By gaining competency in these fundamental principles, the student will have a solid core of practice and have a foundation from which additional modalities such as a cognitive-behavioral approach can be employed. The program is intended as a mentoring experience that emphasizes the development of the trainee as a whole person, appreciating that psychotherapy is an art as much as a science.


Program Description and Certificate Requirements

Approximate Length: One to Two Years
Three Credits each for Academic and Experiential Courses; One Credit for Final Integrative Paper—Total: 16 credits

1. Three Academic Courses:
          (a) HTP 2040 Existential Psychotherapies
          (b) HTP 6150 Existential Psychotherapies II: Rollo May and the Existential
          Tradition
          (c) HTP 2047 Existential Psychotherapies III: James Bugental and the
          Existential-Humanistic Tradition

Academic courses are distance learning; instructors will be assigned after acceptance into the program.

2. Two Experiential Courses:
          (d) HTP 2045 Existential-Humanistic Therapy: Experiential I
          (e) HTP 2046 Existential-Humanistic Therapy: Experiential II

These two four-day experiential courses will offer a total of 48 hours of skill development training.  They will be held on site, in January and August several days prior to the start of the RC. Instructors are Orah Krug and Kirk Schneider. Please review course syllabi for additional course information.

3. Final Integrative Paper that synthesizes and analyzes the academic and experiential learning.

4. A year of personal therapy taken either before or during the yearlong program is strongly recommended.

As an added bonus, students enrolled in the Certificate Program will be able to attend the EHI Annual Conference in November at a reduced rate. Students will receive 12 hours of skill development training, specifically intended for certificate program students.

Eligibility

The certificate program is open to full or half time PDC students in good standing. Coursework may satisfy both certificate and concentration requirements. Students without previous clinical training or involved in such a degree program could be eligible if they have a strong EH background. A new or current Saybrook student needs to apply and be accepted by EHI before the start of the program.


Cost of Program

The only added expenses are food and lodging for the additional days at the RC.

Application and Registration
 

How do I apply and register for the program?
Go to: http://ehinstitute.org/ehi-eh-therapy-certificate.html.
Complete and submit the application online. Once accepted to the program you will receive the course registration information.

Contact

Orah T. Krug, PhD
Certificate Program Director, Saybrook Faculty
Director of Training, Existential-Humanistic Institute
orahkrug@sbcglobal.net