Clinical Perspectives on Meaning ― Positive and Existential Psychotherapy

This volume represents an explorative attempt to not only offer an overview of current thinking on meaning and purpose as psychological notions, but to also bring positive and existentialist psychologists to share their respective ideas concerning meaning as a springboard to human coping and thriving. The Editors believe that this anthology is presently very much missing, and will be of great benefit for a deeper understanding of positive human functioning, growth, and mental health. It is an extension of the Editors previous efforts (the book Meaning in Positive and Existential Psychology, and the special issue on existential therapy that appeared in the Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, Volume 45, Issue 1, 2015). Based on this foundation – a broad overview of contemporary empirical research and theoretical work on the meaning in life construct - the current book is geared specifically toward meaning-centered therapy and interventions.

Pninit Russo-Netzer (Ph.D., Logotherapy Diplomate Clinician) is a researcher at the Department of Counseling and Human Development at the University of Haifa and at Maytiv Center for?Research and Practice in Positive Psychology, School?of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC),?Herzliya. Her main research and practice interests focus on positive psychology, meaning in life, spirituality, change, and development. Dr. Russo-Netzer has published several articles, developed programs and curricula for various organizations on these topics. She lectures on positive psychology, logotherapy and related topics in a number of academic institutions and conducts workshops and trainings in various organizations.?She serves as academic advisor and consultant to both academic and non-academic institutions.

Stefan E. Schulenberg (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology-Clinical/Disaster Specialty Track, University of South Dakota, 2001) is a licensed psychologist in the state of Mississippi, an Associate Professor in the University of Mississippi’s Psychology Department, and a Logotherapy Diplomate. Dr. Schulenberg is the Director of the University of Mississippi’s Clinical-Disaster Research Center (UM-CDRC), an integrated research, teaching, and training center with emphases in disaster mental health and positive psychology. Dr. Schulenberg’s research interests include clinical-disaster psychology, perceived meaning, purpose in life, positive psychology, and psychological assessment. He served as a mental health consultant on a National Science Foundation research grant issued in response to Hurricane Katrina, and conducted evaluation research funded by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health relating to the effects of the?Deepwater Horizon?Oil Spill. He conducts workshops and provides training on disaster preparedness, psychological first aid, disaster response, meaning and purpose in life, resilience, and

posttraumatic growth. Dr. Schulenberg has worked with various volunteer organizations, such as Mississippi’s Disaster Response Network, the American Red Cross, United Way, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Alexander Batthyany (Ph.D.) is Professor and Holder at the Viktor Frankl Chair for Philosophy and Psychology at the International Academy of Philosophy in the Principality of Liechtenstein. He teaches theory of Cognitive Science at Vienna University's Cognitive Science Program and Logotherapy and Existential Analysis at the Department of Psychiatry at Vienna Medical School. Since 2012, Batthyany is Visiting Professor for Existential Psychotherapy at the Moscow University Institute of Psychoanalysis. He is director of the Viktor Frankl Institute and the Viktor Frankl Archives in Vienna and first editor of the 14-volume Edition of the Collected Works of Viktor Frankl. Batthyany has published several books and articles and lectures widely on philosophical and existential psychology, philosophy of mind, and theory of cognitive science.

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