Beyond the Consulting Room: Emmy van Deurzen and Mick Cooper on Existential Therapy & Social Change

In this captivating episode of Depth Dialogues, we are joined by two luminaries of existential and humanistic psychology: Dr. Emmy van Deurzen and Dr. Mick Cooper. Together, they take us on an exploration of how existential therapy can move beyond the consulting room to address the pressing social, ethical, and environmental challenges of our time.Dr. Emmy van Deurzen, founder of the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling in London, has inspired generations of therapists with her unique integration of philosophical inquiry and therapeutic practice, emphasizing resilience, meaning-making, and authentic living. Dr. Mick Cooper, a Professor of Counselling Psychology at the University of Roehampton, is a leader in pluralistic therapy and a passionate advocate for psychology’s role in fostering social justice and systemic change.In this conversation, we explore how existential and humanistic therapies can help individuals confront personal struggles and engage with larger societal issues. We discuss their vision for taking therapy beyond the consulting room and into the world, mobilizing it as a force for collective resilience and transformation.We also discuss the upcoming Existential Movement conference, "Into the Wild Woods: Existential Responses to Turbulent Times," and the forthcoming World Congress of Existential Therapy conference in 2026, highlighting their potential to shape the future of the field. Tune in to hear Emmy and Mick’s reflections on navigating the human condition, addressing systemic injustice, and using the tools of existential psychology to create meaningful change.

Hosts: Dr. Kirk Schneider and Tyler Gamlen Music Composition: Tyler Gamlen and Joe Vanderhoff Music Performance: Joe Vanderhoff Motion Graphics and Logo Design: Ugly Owl Films Recording and Editing: Tyler Gamlen