Kevin Krycka, PsyD

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Biography

Dr. Kevin Krycka  is Associate Dean for Social Sciences and Graduate and Professional Programs. As Professor of Psychology, he has taught foundational courses in both the undergraduate and graduate program and served as the director of the graduate program in existential, phenomenological, therapeutic psychology. His areas of research include applying qualitative research to social issues, Psychological Aspects of dissociation, Creation of Meaning in Illness and Health, Focusing, Experience of Hope, and Sexual Minorities. Dr. Krycka received his PsyD from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in 1988. Prior to joining Seattle University in 1989, Dr. Krycka taught social science courses at Seattle Central College and served as a Doctoral Advisor at the Union Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, and as an Expert Outside Methodologist in Qualitative Research at the Institute for Transpersonal Studies. He continues to sit on dissertation committees in the United States and abroad.

Special Interest Areas

Experiential phenomenological theory and practice (Gendlin, Focusing and Thinking at the Edge [TAE]), the person of the therapist in psychotherapy, psychotherapy with LGBTQi persons, clinical supervision, phenomenological research, and psychopathology; health issues facing sexual minorities; theoretical and practical application of Gendlin’s Process Model for consciousness, mind-body awareness, and social change.

Statement on the Philosophical Foundations of Psychology

We are multi-faceted and multi-dimensional beings.  The complexity of human experience demands that we develop concepts and theories about existence from experiencing.  The meanings we ascribe to our experience and our reflections upon life itself are the nexus of what makes us human. Psychology as a distinctly human science, should enjoin us to search, to explore, to sufficiently expand our beliefs and research practices so as to embrace the broad scope of human experience.

Teaching and Research Interests

Courses Taught:

Experiential Theory Construction, Psychological Assessment, Experiential Theory & Practice, Therapeutic Communication, Self-Psychology, Practicum Supervision, Abnormal Psychology, Theories of Personality Development, Introduction to Psychology.

Current Research:

Integration of Gendlin’s philosophy and theory of psychological change to contemporary social issues.

Other Research Areas:

Creation of Meaning in Illness and Health, Focusing, Experience of Hope, and Sexual Minorities.

Recent Publications

Severson, E. & Krycka, K. (Eds.). (2023). The Philosophy and Psychology of Eugene Gendlin: Making Sense of the Contemporary. Routledge Press, Psychology and the Other series.

Krycka, K., Kunz, G, & Sayre, G. (Eds.). (2015). Psychotherapy for the Other: Levinas and the Face-to-Face Relationship. Duquesne University Press.

Krycka, K. C. (2014). Introduction to the special issue on embodiment. [Editorial]. Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies, 13(1), 1-3. 

Krycka, K.  (2012).  Peacebuilding from the inside. Indo-Pacific Journal of Phenomenology, 12, 1-13.

Krycka, K.  (2010 June).  Multiplicity:  A 1st person exploration of dissociative experiencing.  In C. Purton, Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies.  9(2), 143-156).

Krycka, K.  (2009).  Levinas & Gendlin:  Joint contributions for a 1st person approach to understanding difficult situations in the mid-East.  Existential Analysis 20(1), 94-108.

Krycka, K.  (2008).  The Nature of our exceeding.  In B. Jaison and P. Nowak (Eds.) The Folio.  21(1), 93-105.

Krycka, K.  (2007).  Integrity inside and outside: How personal integrity can spark the moral imagination for peace.  Human Development, 8(3), 36-41.

Krycka, K.  (2006).  Thinking at the edge: Where theory and practice meet to create fresh understandings.  Journal of Indo-Pacific Phenomenology.  6, 1-10.  Special Methodology Edition.