PsiAN Speaks: Kirk Schneider PhD
Editor’s note: The Forum will periodically post video interviews of authors, researchers, academics, and policymakers under the heading PsiAN Speaks. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect PsiAN’s official positions.
In this video, Bevin Campbell PsyD speaks with Kirk J. Schneider PhD, a member of the PsiAN Steering Committee, licensed psychologist, and leading spokesperson for contemporary existential-humanistic and existential-integrative psychology. In this wide-ranging conversation they discuss his candidacy for president of the American Psychological Association, his vision for the future of psychology, how psychologists might help our fractured nation outside of the consulting room, the role of therapy in transforming trauma into psychological and spiritual growth, and the vital place of existential-humanistic and existential-integrative therapies in our quick-fix world. Dr. Schneider also speaks with deep heart and candor about his personal, life-changing experiences as a patient in depth therapy.
Dr. Schneider is a cofounder and current president of the Existential-Humanistic Institute (an award-winning psychotherapy training center), Council Member and candidate for president of the American Psychological Association, past president of the Society for Humanistic Psychology (Division 32) of the APA, recent past editor of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology, a trained moderator for the conflict mediation group Braver Angels, and an adjunct faculty member at Saybrook University and Teachers College, Columbia University. He received the Rollo May Award for “outstanding and independent contributions” to the field of humanistic psychology from the Society for Humanistic Psychology of the APA and is a Fellow of five APA Divisions. Dr. Schneider has published over 200 articles, interviews, and chapters and has authored or edited 13 books including The Spirituality of Awe, The Polarized Mind, Awakening to Awe, The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology, Existential-Humanistic therapy, Existential-Integrative Psychotherapy, The Wiley World Handbook of Existential Therapy, and The Depolarizing of America: A Guidebook for Social Healing. Dr. Schneider’s work has been featured in Scientific American, the New York Times, The Guardian, Vanity Fair, Psychology Today and many other health and psychology outlets.
Bevin Campbell PsyD is a psychologist in private practice in Brooklyn, New York.