For Monica Hanaway’s upcoming book, I was invited to contribute a chapter, which I’m thrilled about! Under the heading East of Eden – An Existential View of the Pandemic I unfold some basic thoughts on the existential impact of the pandemic and what is important in dealing with it.
Edited by Monica Hanaway
ISBN 9781032186870
August 5, 2022 Forthcoming by Routledge
224 Pages
Building on Monica Hanaway’s previous publications, this timely volume considers the benefits of bringing an existential approach to psychotherapy, coaching, supervision, and leadership, particularly in times of crisis.
The book uses an existential lens to examine the impact Covid-19 has had on our mental health and ways of being, making connections between situations that challenge our mental resources and the unique ways existential ideas can address those challenges. Featuring contributions from renowned existential thinkers and practitioners, the book connects personal experiences with clinical examples and philosophic ideas to explore concepts like anxiety, relatedness, and uncertainty as they relate to key existential themes, helping to inform coaches and therapists in their work with clients.
Existentialism in Pandemic Times is important reading for coaches, therapists, psychologists, and business leaders, as well for scholars and researchers interested in applied philosophy.
Table of Contents
Foreword
Introduction
Part One: The Internal World – Self-reflection
1. From Fear, Uncertainty, and Loss to Embodiment, Dreams and Awakening
Monica Hanaway
2. ›Without music, life would be a mistake‹: TheExperience of a Musician in Covid-19 Times
Laurence Colbert
3. The Paradox of Freedom in Lockdown
Diana Mitchell
4. Expecting the Unexpected: My Pandemic Pregnancy
Cleo Hanaway-Oakley
5. What Really Matters? A Phenomenological Exploration of Two YouTube Dialogues on Living Through Corona Times
Ernesto Spinelli & Greg Madison
Part Two: The Therapy World – Psychotherapy and Coaching Clients
6. Birth, Death, and Isolation: Motherhood During a Pandemic
Claire Arnold-Baker
7. Relatedness and Relationships in the Time of Covid
Michael Worrell & Luci Moja
8. Existential Resilience and Covid-19
Yannick Jacob
9. ›It’s been a good pandemic for me‹: Working With Coaching and Psychotherapy Clients, With a Focus on Those Therapy Clients With a Diagnosis of Pure Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (POCD)
Monica Hanaway
Part Three: The Business World and Other Communities – Existential Issues for Businesses, Communities, and Organisations to Consider Post Pandemic
10. East of Eden – An Existential View of the Pandemic
René Märtin
11. Existential Challenges for Business Leaders Post-Pandemic
Monica Hanaway
Conclusion
Review
»Existential thinking has seen a remarkable comeback during the COVID 19 pandemic. The common thread running through is a sensitivity to human fragility that is felt to be particularly relevant. Our most important existential lesson is that our fears are inherent in the human condition. Anxiety is a wake-up call and not pathological. It is up to us to anchor ourselves, to value life in the midst of death, to nurture relationships in the midst of isolation, and to voice against shame and stigma of psychologically stressful experiences. And above all, to be there for our clients and show them that and how we can be responsible for our own resilience. – Monica Hanaway’s latest publication, together with her chapter authors, follows along this trail. It is with great enrichment to accompany her on this journey.« – Dr. Georg Martensen, Logotherapist, Existential Coach, Supervisor, Brunswick, Germany
