After two years of being mentored by Dr Gerry Wiviott on my journey into existential philosophy, I had the privilege of sitting down with this remarkable psychiatrist, educator, and retired McGill University faculty member for an in-depth conversation on Existentialism in Psychiatry. We explored foundational themes in existential thought, their clinical applications, and the therapeutic value of presence, meaning, freedom, and responsibility. What emerged was more than an interview—it was an existential dialogue. Thoughtful, vulnerable, dialogical, and grounded in decades of clinical wisdom.
I was also honoured to hear his reflections on my newly introduced concepts of Rights-Based Existential Psychiatry and Dynamic Eclectic Existential Psychopharmacotherapy (DEEP Therapy).
Whether you’re a psychiatrist, medical student, psychologist, researcher, or simply someone interested in the human side of healing, I hope this conversation resonates with you.