Psychotherapy and Phenomenology: On Freud, Husserl and Heidegger

This book is a scholarly monograph on Sigmund Freud's understanding of the basics of psychotherapy theory and practice from the perspective of phenomenology. Two leading phenomenologists, Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger, are chosen to make an appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of Freud's interpretation of talking and relating with others. Heidegger is then compared to Husserl to produce a position that keeps a focus on intentionality yet accepts the understanding offered by hermeneutics. This work is relevant to psychotherapists, philosophers and philosophically-interested human scientists who value qualitative approaches to meaning.