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  • © 2020

Freedom, Responsibility, and Therapy

Palgrave Macmillan

Authors:

  • Examines the implications of the philosophical free will debate on therapy and mental health

  • Explores whether it is possible to reconcile the theories of Freud and Rogers with regard to free will and responsibility

  • Suggests that free will and choice are crucial to integrative psychotherapy

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
  2. Free Will

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. On Freedom

      • Vlad Beliavsky
      Pages 3-37
    3. Free Will in Psychoanalysis

      • Vlad Beliavsky
      Pages 39-64
    4. Free Will in Rogerian Theory

      • Vlad Beliavsky
      Pages 65-74
    5. Integrative Approach

      • Vlad Beliavsky
      Pages 75-85
    6. Ways to Work with Free Will

      • Vlad Beliavsky
      Pages 87-98
    7. Sanity and Choice

      • Vlad Beliavsky
      Pages 99-126
  3. Responsibility

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 127-127
    2. On Responsibility

      • Vlad Beliavsky
      Pages 129-146
    3. Three Senses of Responsibility

      • Vlad Beliavsky
      Pages 147-172
    4. The Puzzle of Alternate Possibilities

      • Vlad Beliavsky
      Pages 173-188
    5. Neutral Attitude

      • Vlad Beliavsky
      Pages 189-204
    6. Blame in Therapy

      • Vlad Beliavsky
      Pages 205-216
    7. Coping with Blame

      • Vlad Beliavsky
      Pages 217-231
  4. Back Matter

    Pages 233-243

About this book

This book investigates the role of free will and responsibility in mental well-being, psychotherapy, and personality theory. Mounting evidence suggests that a belief in free will is associated with positive outcomes for human mental health and behaviours, yet little is known about why the theme of freedom has such a significant impact. This book explores why and how different freedom-related concepts affect well-being and psychotherapy, such as autonomy, free will, negative freedom, the experience of freedom, blame, and responsibility.

Through the lens of the works of Freud and Rogers, the book tackles both theoretical and practical questions: How can different senses of responsibility affect mental health? What are the implications of a lack of free will for therapy? If we have no free will, can therapists continue to encourage their clients to take responsibility for their actions? Is it possible to reconcile different counselling schools concerning free will?

With an illuminating dive into both philosophy and psychotherapy, Beliavsky carefully analyses the implications of the philosophical free will debate on therapy and shows that some senses of freedom and responsibility are crucial to psychotherapy and mental health.


Authors and Affiliations

  • Psychology, Philosophy, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

    Vlad Beliavsky

About the author

Dr. Vlad Beliavsky is a visiting lecturer at the University of Warwick, UK, and behavior change consultant. Among his research interests are personality, mind, personal growth, behavior change, psychotherapy, free will, and happiness.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access