What relationship does the experience of riding Harley Davidson-Motorcycles have to existentialism? A first response may be “Nothing!” Riding a Harley is a leisure activity—it is not related to existentialist philosophy or psychology at all. Because I have conducted extensive research on the meaning of riding a Harley for those who own them, I wondered… Read more »
Author: Makenna Berry
Considering Existential Joy
Existential joy is the moment of exaltation in which we are at one with the world and conscious of our being in a kind of illumination that carries a deep conviction with it. This is a state of being that many people seek to experience in their lives. If we cannot have it all of… Read more »
A diagnosis of “gender identity disorder” or “authenticity?”
The DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for GID is: A strong and persistent cross-bender identification (not merely a desire for any perceived cultural advantages of being the other sex). Persistent discomfort with his or her sex or sense of inappropriateness in the gender role of that that sex. The disturbance is not concurrent with the physical intersex… Read more »
Uncertainty and Intentionality
Photo by Tholly (Creative Commons License) This may seem hard to believe but, there can be beauty in uncertainty. I came across this story that I was given during a training I attended late last year. The Tug A child takes the kite to a distant hill and sets it flying high in the sky…. Read more »
Grief is never “one size fits all”
We all grieve in different ways. Grief can hollow out a soul and pull someone down the depths of despair that can be all consuming. It is not something to ignore or to treat lightly, but grief is an inevitable in life as there are as many endings as there are beginnings. Can grief be… Read more »
Existential aloneness — and it’s opposite
“Walking Back to Happiness” by Ron Almog רון אלמוג Not long ago I reviewed a piece written by Emory Cowan on existential aloneness. It was a hopeful piece dealing with a Cowan’s subject matter that is usually seen as being by some as being dark and bleak. It may seem that existential psychology focuses just… Read more »
What does it mean to “recover” from a mental health issue?
Photo by Portland Prevention (Creative Commons licence) Recovery is: “A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.” This is the new working definition of recovery that was co-created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the… Read more »
How therapists can Occupy for social change
Photo by Roland zh The Occupy movement and the psychologist are they hand in hand? For some this may not be a far off connection, for others there is very little notion that their work as a therapist could be a part of this movement. It should not be such a remote concept since physicians… Read more »
We are we lonely around the holidays? Because we’re lonely all the time.
Photo by Steve Hopson (Creative Commons License) The holidays are here, as if you have not noticed the cheery songs singing of happiness, joy, presents and Santa Claus. This is time when many people are planning trips to visit family and putting together plans for some food and drink filled celebrations. Even during this time… Read more »
Myths are rules — to follow and to break
The movie is about a myth … Dr. Louis Hoffman recently published a book, Existential Psychology: East-West, is a collection of articles written by leading scholars of Existential psychology. I was drawn to one particular chapter titled “An Existential Analysis of American Beauty” by Cathy Calvert, Kate Calhoon, Steve Fehl, and Christen Gregory. Briefly, the… Read more »