James Bugental American psychologist and psychotherapist Date of Birth: 25.12.1915 Country: USA

Biography of James Bugental

James Bugental was an American psychologist and psychotherapist, renowned for being one of the founders of the existential-humanistic approach in psychology and psychotherapy. He was a professor at Saybrook Institute, an Honorary Lecturer at Stanford University, and an Honorary Professor at the Institute of Humanistic Studies. Bugental was awarded the American Psychological Association's "Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Psychology" and the inaugural Rollo May Award for his contributions to humanistic psychology.

Born on December 25, 1915, James Bugental entered university in the late 1930s and married his college sweetheart in 1939. They had two children together. In 1948, he earned his doctorate in psychology from Ohio State University. After many years of marriage, Bugental divorced his first wife and remarried. Together with his second wife, Elizabeth, they adopted a daughter.

Five years before his death, Bugental suffered a stroke which affected his memory. However, he continued to maintain his love for life and his unique sense of humor. In 1963, while serving as the president of the Association for Humanistic Psychology, James Bugental formulated five foundational principles of this psychological approach.

Bugental authored 60 articles and seven books, including "Psychotherapy Isn't What You Think" (1999), "The Art of the Psychotherapist" (1987), "Intimate Journeys" (1990), "Psychotherapy and Process" (1978), and "The Search for Authenticity" (1995). However, only two of his books, "The Art of the Psychotherapist" and "The Search for Existential Identity," have been translated into Russian.