Chair of the International Advisory Board - Professor Emmy van Deurzen (UK)

Professor Emmy van Deurzen is a philosopher, existential therapist and psychologist who has been instrumental in bringing together the existential movement around the world. She is a founder and director of the New School, the Existential Academy and her private practice Dilemma Consultancy.  Her many publications have been widely translated. She is the current president of the Existential Movement and chairs the board meetings. 

Dr Martin Adams (UK) 

Dr Martin Adams (UK) is a psychotherapist, writer and sculptor. He is co-editor of the journal Existential Analysis.  As well having written on a wide variety of subjects he is the author of A Concise Introduction to Existential Counselling (2013), An Existential Approach to Human Development (2019), and with E. van Deurzen, Skills in Existential Counselling & Psychotherapy (2016).

Dr. Mick Cooper (UK)

Dr. Mick Cooper (UK) is Professor of Counselling Psychology at the University of Roehampton and a chartered psychologist. Mick is author and editor of a range of texts on existential, person-centred, and relational approaches to therapy; Mick has published psychotherapy research in a range of leading international psychotherapy journals. Mick’s latest book explores the contribution that therapeutic theory and practice can make to wider social progress and justice, Psychology at the Heart of Social Change: Towards a progressive Vision for Society (2023). Mick is the father of four children and lives in Brighton on the south coast of England.

Dr. Erik Craig (USA)

Dr. Erik Craig (USA), psychologist, writer, and lecturer, has received APA’s Rollo May Award and recognition from the Journal of Phenomenological Psychology as one of 11 independent psychologists contributing to the emergence of phenomenological psychology in America through his “steady stream of invaluable research.” He collaborated extensively with the Daseinsanalyst, Medard Boss, and the Korean Taopsychotherapist, Rhee Dongshick, and is committed to developing an existential approach to depth psychology and psychotherapy.

Dr. Peter Donders (Norway and Netherlands)

Dr. Peter Donders (Norway and Netherlands) earned his PhD-degree with a study on the way cancer patients deal with arising existential questions. Since 2006, he has worked as therapist in the team for Existential Therapy at the Viken Senter in Norway. He is the current Chair of the Federation for Existential Therapy in Europe.

Professor Simon du Plock (UK)

Professor Simon du Plock (UK) is Senior Research Fellow at the Metanoia Institute, London.  He has authored nearly one hundred journal papers and book chapters on existential therapy, and he has co-edited Existential Analysis, the Journal of the British Society for Existential Analysis, since 1993. He was an editor of the 2019 Wiley World Handbook of Existential Therapy. He has lectured and trained internationally, and in 2006 he was made an Honorary Member of the East European Association for Existential Therapy in recognition of his contribution to cooperation between West and East Europe in the development of existential psychotherapy.

Evgenia Georganda, Psy.D., ECP, (Greece)

Evgenia Georganda, Psy.D., ECP, (Greece) is chief administrator, co-founder, trainer and supervisor of “gignesthai”, the Hellenic Association for Existential Psychology. In 2018 she was nominated for the Charlotte and Karl Buhler Award of APA for her contribution in promoting existential psychotherapy in Greece. Has served as secretary to the National Organization of Psychotherapists of Greece, membership secretary and member of the Board of Trustees of the Federation for Existential Therapy in Europe.

Louis Hoffman, PhD, (USA) 

Louis Hoffman, PhD, (USA) is the executive director of the Rocky Mountain Humanistic Counseling and Psychological Association and a psychologist in private practice. He has been recognized as a fellow of the American Psychological Association and 6 of its divisions and is a recipient of the Rollo May Award of the Society for Humanistic Psychology. 

Alice Holzhey-Kunz, (Switzerland)

Alice Holzhey-Kunz, (Switzerland), Ph.D., philosopher and Daseinsanalyst in Zurich, gave Daseinsanalysis a new turn by thinking together fundamental insights of Freudian psychoanalysis with existential-philosophical insights into the abysmal character of the human condition. Her latest book (2022) is about ‘Emotional Truth’. She is also co-editor of the new edition of selected works of Ludwig Binswanger.

Dr F. Jak Icoz (Turkey)

Dr F. Jak Icoz (Turkey) – is clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, supervisor, lecturer, and author. Jak leads accredited trainings in existential therapy and works with individuals at the Existential Academy of Istanbul, as well as teaching and supervising at the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling. Jak wrote two books on existential therapy and translated a dozen in the field.

Prof. Rimas Kočiūnas, Ph.D. (Lithuania).

Prof. Rimas Kočiūnas, Ph.D. (Lithuania). Main professional interest in existential phenomenological therapy, both individual and in groups. Co-founder (1995), director and author of training programs of the Institute of Humanistic and Existential Institute; initiator (2000) and long-term Secretary General of the East European Association for Existential Therapy; contributed significantly to promoting existential therapy in Lithuania and other post-Soviet countries (Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Belarus, etc.).

Alfried Längle, M.D., Ph.D. (Psychology) (Austria),

Alfried Längle, M.D., Ph.D. (psychology) (Austria), born 1951 in Austria, founder (1983) and long-term president of the International Society for Logotherapy and Existential Analysis (Vienna), scholar and collaborator of Viktor Frankl. Professor at the Moscow’s HSE-university and Vienna’s Sigmund Freud University. 400 publications, two honorary doctorates, six honorary professor degrees, 2 decorations of the Republic of Austria.

Prof Mia Leijssen, (Belgium), PhD

Prof Mia Leijssen, (Belgium), PhD, has been a Person-centered, Experiential, Existential Psychotherapist since 1976. She has also been a Focusing Teacher and Coordinator since 1984. She is a Professor (Emeritus) in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy at the University of Leuven, Belgium. She is Academic director of the Massive Open Online Course: Existential Well-being Counseling: A Person-centered Experiential Approach

Dmitry Leontiev (Russia)

Dmitry Leontiev (Russia) — Ph.D., Dr. Sc., Tenured Professor and Head of International laboratory of positive psychology of motivation and personality at Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia. Promotional Award of Viktor Frankl Foundation of the city of Vienna, honorary lifetime member of Society for Logotherapy and Existential Analysis by Viktor Frankl Institute (Vienna).

Yaqui Martinez-Robles. PhD. , (Mexico) 

Yaqui Martinez-Robles. PhD. , (Mexico) Existential-phenomenological therapist. Trainings in Gestalt, Group, Narrative, and Music therapy. Certifications in Holotropicbreathwork, and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy.  Founder of the Circle of Studies in Existential Therapy, in Mexico and Colombia, where he trains existential therapists since 2002. Honorary president of the Latin American Association for Existential Psychotherapy. 

Dr Gideon Menda, (Israel)

Dr Gideon Menda, (Israel) is an existential psychotherapist, supervisor and lecturer. He holds a Doctoral degree in Existential Psychotherapy and Counselling from Middlesex University, London/ The New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling (NSPC), Master'sdegree in existential psychotherapy and first degree in psychology.

He is founder and head of the existential psychotherapy and counselling postgraduate programme at Kibbutzim College in Tel-Aviv, Israel, where he also teaches various courses in psychology and existential psychotherapy.  He runs a private practice in the central district of Israel. Gideon is co-founder of the Israeli Multi-Disciplinary Association for Psychotherapy, founding member of FETE and currently Chair-elect of FETE - the Federation for Existential Therapy in Europe.

Lucia Moja-Strasser (France)

Lucia Moja-Strasser (France) is an existential-phenomenological therapist, supervisor and mediator. She has taught numerous courses on existential psychotherapy in London, Paris, Saint Petersburg, Lisbon & Birstonas. She has also published several articles and chapters in books on the subject. Her engagement with existential philosophy is central to her life, her work and her way of being. ‘I have learnt that true “dialogue” is vital for a genuine connection with another – if only our world leaders had some understanding of what is meant by this’..

Kirk J. Schneider, Ph.D. (USA) 

Kirk J. Schneider, Ph.D. (USA) is a leading spokesperson for existential-humanistic and existential-integrative psychology, an adjunct faculty member at Saybrook University and Teachers College, Columbia University, and a cofounder and current president of the award-winning Existential-Humanistic Institute. Dr. Schneider is the author/co-author of 14 books, including his latest Life-Enhancing Anxiety:  Key to a Sane World.

Dr. Xuefu Wang (China) 

Dr. Xuefu Wang is the founder and psychotherapist at Zhi Mian Institute for Psychotherapy, Nanjing. He has authored 13 books and numerous articles. In his extensive collaboration with existential psychologists across the world, especially in the US and UK, he has become a leading practitioner and promoter of existential psychology in China. He is an APA’s Charlotte and Karl Buhler Award recipient (2013)

Elisabeth Serrander (Sweden)

Elisabeth Serrander (Sweden), is a licensed existential psychotherapist, teacher and supervisor in psychotherapy. President and honorary member of SEPT, the Swedish Association for Existential Psychotherapy, and its representative in FETE. She has published and co-authored several books in the field of existential psychotherapy, counselling and coaching. Elisabeth teaches at universities and runs a private practice in Stockholm.

Susana Signorelli, (Argentina) 

Susana Signorelli, (Argentina) discovered Existential Philosophy and Psychology as a psychology student. Since then she has deepened her understanding by studying the great existential philosophers, psychiatrists and psychologists. She currently trains new existential therapists and has written five books and contributed many papers to journals and chapters to books. She founded ALPE, the Latin American Association for Existential Therapy and was its first President.

Dan Stiwne, Ph.D., (Sweden)

Dan Stiwne, Ph.D., (Sweden), is an Existential Psychotherapist, who previously worked at Linköping University (Sweden) as senior lecturer and Associate professor in Clinical Psychology. He was, for many years, a program director for the Masters programme  inpsychotherapy and worked as a psychotherapist and supervisor in private practice. He is now a lecturer and supervisor in existential counselling and psychotherapy, connected to SEPT (The Swedish Society for Existential Psychotherapy).

Alison Strasser DProf (Psychotherapy & Counselling), MA, BA Hons, (Australia),

Alison Strasser DProf (Psychotherapy & Counselling), MA, BA Hons, (Australia), is a practising psychotherapist, coach and supervisor. She founded Centre for Existential Practice which provides a platform for existential thinking to practitioners in Australia. In recent times, she has become interested in how this philosophical attunement to wider world issues can be brought ethically and responsibly into the therapeutic space.  

Irvin David Yalom, (USA) MD

Irvin David Yalom, (USA) MD is an American existential psychiatrist, who is emeritus professor of psychiatry at Stanford University as well as the author of both fiction and nonfiction books clarifying existential issues. He is one of the best known and most widely read and influential existential authors, with many best sellers to his name, such as the classic Existential Psychotherapy (1980) and his books on death, Staring at the Sun, and A Matter of Death and Life, with his late wife, Marilyn Yalom.

Semyon Yesselson (Russia) 

Semyon Yesselson (Russia) Philosopher; conflictologist; existential therapist. In 1999, founded and continues to lead the International Institute of Existential Consultancy(MIEK). Founder and the chief editor of the journal "Existential Tradition: Philosophy, Psychology, Psychotherapy". Leader of the existential therapy modality at the Russian national EAP umbrella organization. Honourable President of the Russian National Association of Existential Counsellors and Therapists (NOECT). Trustee of FETE.