Introduction to a mythical family: how to do experiential psychotherapy

Experiential psychotherapy is generally accepted as one of the major families of psychotherapy. One of the main purposes of this introduction to the theme issue is to invite leading proponents and exponents to provide their own answers to the question of how to do experiential psychotherapy, with the emphasis on what would be helpful to students, trainees, and practitioners somewhat familiar with the approach. A second main purpose is to make a case that the very idea of an "experiential family" is a myth. There is no such thing as an "experiential family" of psychotherapies. There are not distinctively common family characteristics.