Home

Dr Joel Vos PhD MSc MA is a chartered psychologist and philosopher. He lectures and conducts research at the Metanoia Institute in London. He is the director of IMEC International Meaning Events and Community. He has trained as an existential-humanistic, cognitive-behaviour, group and contextual family psychotherapist. He has given therapy to thousands of clients in different mental health care settings, including his private practice. He has developed psychological treatments which has been validated in clinical trials, and which are now used worldwide.

Research & publications

Joel’s big passion are conducting research and writing. This is reflected in his publication of over 160 research articles, chapters, across five intersecting areas: research methods; existential and humanistic therapies; meaning in life; social justice, social movements, and radicalisation; psychological and existential impact of physical diseases. For example, he is known for his systematic literature reviews, meta-analyses, development and validation of integrative conceptual models in these fields. He is a review editor/incoming consulting editor for The Humanistic Psychologist. He has supervised 90 doctorate students, examined approx. 100 doctorate students, and helped reorganise research programmes at universities. His research has been awarded approximately two and a half million GBP in grants and awards.

Link to Vos’ books

Link to Vos’ research publications on Google Scholar

Link to Vos’ awards and endorsements

Social impact

Joel is driven to help individuals and make society a better place for all, like his life motto says: ‘because everybody deserves a meaningful life’. For example, he has trained and consulted politicians and activists and has helped to design social movements. He has for example been nominated by the Council of Europe for the Democracy Innovations Award 2022 (shared), advised democratic activists and politicians during uprisings in several countries such as Myanmar and Sudan, was awarded the title ‘Chief of Peace’ for lobbying for girls to attend schools in Ghana, and was one of the founders of Extinction Rebellion which was named after his existential research. His work was debated several times in the Dutch House of Commons (‘Tweede Kamer’) where the Deputy Prime-Minister Rouvoet described his vision as the cornerstone of the formation of the governmental coalition in 2006 and for the 2006-2010 government policies on immigration and multiculturalism. His book ‘The psychology of COVID-19’ was published early during the pandemic, and both his book and invited consultancy inspired several governments in their policies. He has offered consultancy to small, medium and large businesses, such as Unilever and Phillips International, to help their employees experience more meaning in their work. He has provided psychotherapy to various clients, particularly those at turning points in their lives, such as a diagnosis of a physical disease, and offering therapy and coaching to help individuals live a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

Link to examples of Vos’ activism

PRE-ORDER NOW! Joel Vos & Biljana van Rijn. The Handbook of Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy. An Evidence-based Approach. (Sage, 2025)

This book is a comprehensive introduction to Transactional Analysis theory, evidence-base and practice. It provides a step by step manual to the competencies and skills needed across the therapy process, and a guide to working with a variety of client issues. Supported by case studies, reflective questions, boxed summaries, and process questionnaires, this is the ideal book to support you in your training and practice. It is an essential companion whether you’re studying on a specialist TA courses, studying TA as part of a wider training or integrating TA into your practice. Pre-order here

Key texts on transactional analysis psychotherapy

Vos, J., & van Rijn, B. (2024). Brief transactional analysis psychotherapy for depression: The systematic development of a treatment manual.Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 34(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000304 Link to the publisher’s website

Vos, J., & van Rijn, B. (2022). The effectiveness of transactional analysis treatments and their predictors: A systematic literature review and explorative meta-analysis. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 00221678221117111. Link to the publisher’s website

Vos, J., & van Rijn, B. (2021). A systematic review of psychometric transactional analysis instruments. Transactional Analysis Journal, 51(2), 127-159. Link to the publisher’s website

Vos, J., & van Rijn, B. (2021). The evidence-based conceptual model of transactional analysis: A focused review of the research literature. Transactional Analysis Journal, 51(2), 160-201. Link to the publisher’s website

Vos, J., & van Rijn, B. (2021). The transactional analysis review survey: An investigation into self-reported practices and philosophies of psychotherapists. Transactional Analysis Journal, 51(2), 111-126. Link to the publisher’s website

Key texts on existential and humanistic therapies

Vos, J. (2025) Chapter 2. Existential–Therapeutic Competencies. and Vos, J. (2025). Chapter 9. Working With Meaning in Life in Existential–Humanistic Psychotherapy. In: Louis Hoffman & Veronica Lac. (Eds.). The Evidence-Based Foundations of Existential–Humanistic Therapy. APA. Link to the publisher’s website (In print.)

Vos, J. (2023). Existential psychological therapies: An overview of empirical research. Pratiques Psychologiques. Link to the publisher’s website (free download)

Vos, J. (2023). Phenomenology in the Bedroom: How Martin Heidegger and Michel Foucault Could Reinvigorate Your Sex Life. Chapter 1 in: Eros and Psyche. Philosophical and Theoretical Perspectives. Link to the publisher’s website

Vos, J. (2021). The existential therapeutic competences framework: Development and preliminary validation. International Journal of Psychotherapy, 25(1), 9-51. Link to the publisher’s website (free download)

Vos, J. (2019). A review of research on existential‐phenomenological therapies. The Wiley world handbook of existential therapy, 592-614. Link to the publisher’s website

Vos, J. (2018). Death in existential psychotherapies: A critical review. In: Menzies & Menzies. Curing the dread of death: theory, research and practice, 145. Link to the publisher’s website

van Bruggen, V., Ten Klooster, P., Westerhof, G., Vos, J., de Kleine, E., Bohlmeijer, E., & Glas, G. (2017). The Existential Concerns Questionnaire (ECQ)–development and initial validation of a new existential anxiety scale in a nonclinical and clinical sample. Journal of clinical psychology, 73(12), 1692-1703. Link to the publisher’s website

Craig, M., Vos, J., Cooper, M., & Correia, E. A. (2016). Existential psychotherapies. In D. J. Cain, K. Keenan, & S. Rubin (Eds.), Humanistic psychotherapies: Handbook of research and practice (2nd ed., pp. 283–317). American Psychological Association. Link to the publisher’s website

van Bruggen, V., Vos, J., Westerhof, G., Bohlmeijer, E., & Glas, G. (2015). Systematic review of existential anxiety instruments. Journal of humanistic psychology, 55(2), 173-201. Link to the publisher’s website

Vos, J., Craig, M., & Cooper, M. (2015). Existential therapies: a meta-analysis of their effects on psychological outcomes. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 83(1), 115. Link to a downloadable version

Vos, J. (2015). Meaning and existential givens in the lives of cancer patients: A philosophical perspective on psycho-oncology. Palliative & supportive care, 13(4), 885-900. Link to the publisher’s website

Vos, J. (2024). The Development and Validation of the Meaning Approach Scale: Traditional, Functionalistic and Critical-Intuitive Approaches to Meaning in Life. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 37(4), 491-513.

How do individuals approach meaning in life? This study shows that globally individuals seem to use three main ways to finding meaning: by using a traditional-conformist approach (e.g., following traditions or leaders), a goal-oriented/mechanistic/functionalistic approach (e.g., rationally setting your own ambitious goals that you strive towards in a linear way), and a critical-intuitive/phenomenological approach (e.g., listening to your intuitions and experiences and using critical thinking to discover what is meaningful). Link to the publisher’s website You can find the Meaning Approach Scale described in this study to assess for yourself, your clients or research participants what the approach to life is: Link to Meaning Approach Scale

Vos, J. (2023). The meaning sextet: A systematic literature review and further validation of a universal typology of meaning in Life. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 36(2), 204-231.

What examples or sources of meaning do individuals experience in life? This systematic review shows that there is a global trend in the types of meaning that individuals experience. The Universal Meaning Sextet consists of six types and 27 sub-types of meaning: materialistic, hedonistic, self-oriented, social, large and existential-philosophical types of meaning. Link to the publisher’s website Fill in the Meaning Sextet Questionnaire here to identify the types of meaning in your own life, the lives of your clients and research participants: Link to Meaning Sextet Questionnaire

Special edition of The Journal of Constructivist Psychology on Meaning in life in Society

The Journal of Constructivist Psychology published in April 2023 a special edition on Meaning in life in society. This edition was edited by Joel Vos, Pninit Russo-Netzer and Stefan Schulenberg. This special edition focused on the intersection between meaning in life and society. Link to the publisher’s website

The Economics of Meaning in Life (University Professors Press, 2020)

Meaning in life is more than an individual experience. In contrary, it is the result from our interactions with the people around us, and our position in our society, culture and historical point in time. This book provides a systematic review of empirical research on the intersection between meaning in life and society, focusing particularly on socioeconomic and political influences on our sense of meaning in life. Link to the publisher’s website

Meaning in Life: an evidence-based handbook for practitioners (Bloomsbury, 2018)

This comprehensive handbook provides and evidence-based approach to working with meaning in life, each component grounded in systematic research. The final part consists of a ten-session treatment manual for individuals and groups.  Link to the publisher’s website

Other relevant publications

Vos, J. (2025). Measuring Meaning in Life at Macro and Micro-level: Real-world Implications and Future Directions
(Types, Approaches, and Number of Envisioned and Realized Meanings in Life). Journal of Positive Psychology. (In print.)

Vos, J. & Johnson, S. (2025). Special edition on meaning in life of the Journal of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Rational Emotive Therapy. (Forthcoming.)

Vos, J. (2025). Chapter 25. Meaning in Life and Society. And Russo-Netzer, P. & Vos, J. (2025). Meaning Interventions: Working with Meaning in Life in Psychological Therapies. In: Louis Hoffman, L. Xochitl Vallejos, Dan Hocoy, Pratyusha Tummala-Narra, and Eugene DeRobertis (Eds.) APA Handbook of Humanistic and Existential Psychology. Link to the publisher’s website  (In print.)

Vos, J. (2025) Chapter 2. Existential–Therapeutic Competencies. and Vos, J. (2025). Chapter 9. Working With Meaning in Life in Existential–Humanistic Psychotherapy. In: Louis Hoffman & Veronica Lac. (Eds.). The Evidence-Based Foundations of Existential–Humanistic Therapy. APA. Link to the publisher’s website (In print.)

Vos, J., Russo-Netzer & Schulenberg (2025). COVID-19 and beyond. University Professors Press. (In print.)

Vos, J. (2023). Systematic Meaning in Life Psychotherapy: From systematic literature reviews to a systematic treatment manual. Link to the publisher’s website

Vos, J. (2022, December). Meaning in Life Across Cultures and Times: An Evidence-Based Overview. In Meaning in Life International Conference 2022-Cultivating, Promoting, and Enhancing Meaning in Life Across Cultures and Life Span (MIL 2022) (pp. 21-40). Atlantis Press. Link to the publisher’s website (free download)

Vos, J., & Vitali, D. (2018). The effects of psychological meaning-centered therapies on quality of life and psychological stress: A metaanalysis. Palliative & supportive care, 16(5), 608-632. Link to the publisher’s website

Vos, J. (2016). Working with meaning in life in mental health care: A systematic literature review of the practices and effectiveness of meaning-centred therapies. Clinical perspectives on meaning: Positive and existential psychotherapy, 59-87. Link to the publisher’s website

Vos, J., Davies, J., & Roberts, R. (2019). Mental health in crisis. Sage.

This book reviews and updates research on critical psychology and mental health care. Western countries face the biggest national mental health crisis in their history. Never have so many individuals needed mental health care – with almost one in two individuals now reporting severe psychological problems during their life time. Despite this pressing need, however, the mental health care systems in many countries are confronting grave financial threats along with long waiting lists and insufficient care. This book brings together empirical research to argue that 10 key socio-political, economic and medical crises have lead to this crisis in mental health care. In the final chapter the authors begin to look to alternatives that could help resolve this crisis. Link to the publisher’s website

Other publications

Vos, J. (2025). Working with victims of social injustice. In: Frank Gruba-Mcallister & John Hook (Eds). The Revolutionary Psychologist’s Guide to Radical Therapy. Routledge. (In Print).

Vos, J. (2025). Working in an unjust mental health care system. In: Frank Gruba-Mcallister & John Hook (Eds). The Revolutionary Psychologist’s Guide to Radical Therapy. Routledge. (In Print).

Vos, J. (2020). The Economics of Meaning in Life (University Professors Press). (Including a systematic review of meaning in life in social movements, and a systematic review of meaning in life and economics.) Link to the publisher’s website

Vos, J., van Deurzen, E., & Tantam, D. (2020). The forgotten Brexistential crisis. Psychologist, 33, 10-10. Link to the publisher’s website (free download)

Vos, J. (2005). Migration and integration as a psychological boundary situation in life. Thesis MA Philosophy Leiden University / Leo Polak National Thesis Award for Humanistics.

Vos, J. (2004). Migration as a boundary situation: an explorative study on the existential impact of emigration on the lives of Turkish and Moroccan immigrants in the Netherlands. Thesis MSc Psychology Leiden University.

Vos, J. (2005). Interreligieuze Werkplaats/stichting Interreligieuze Dialoog. First prize. Essay title: ‘Between being mute and shouting: a vision on the Dutch debate on immigration and integration’

.

Vos, J. (2021). The psychology of Covid-19. Sage.

Read the first book on the psychology of COVID-19 published at the height of the pandemic, and that has influenced the health policies of several governments! This book explores how the coronavirus pandemic is giving rise to a new order in our personal lives, societies, and politics. Rooted in systematic research on Covid-19 and previous pandemics, this book describes how people perceive and respond to Covid-19, and how it has impacted a broad range of domains, including lifestyle, politics, science, mental health, media, and meaning in life. Building on this, the book then sets out how we can improve our psychological and social resilience, to safeguard ourselves against the psychological effects of future pandemics. Link to the publisher’s website

Other key texts

Vos, J. (2021). Cardiovascular disease and meaning in life: A systematic literature review and conceptual model. Palliative & Supportive Care, 19(3), 367-376. Link to the publisher’s website

Van der Spek, N., Vos, J., van Uden-Kraan, C. F., Breitbart, W., Cuijpers, P., Holtmaat, K., … & Verdonck-de Leeuw, I. M. (2017). Efficacy of meaning-centered group psychotherapy for cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial. Psychological medicine, 47(11), 1990-2001. Link to my PhD student’s publication

Vos, J. (2016). Working with meaning in life in chronic or life-threatening disease: A review of its relevance and the effectiveness of meaning-centred therapies. Clinical perspectives on meaning: Positive and existential psychotherapy, 171-200. Link to the publisher’s website

Vos, J. (2015). Meaning and existential givens in the lives of cancer patients: A philosophical perspective on psycho-oncology. Palliative & supportive care, 13(4), 885-900. Link to the publisher’s website

Vos, J., van Asperen, C. J., Oosterwijk, J. C., Menko, F. H., Collee, M. J., Garcia, E. G., & Tibben, A. (2013). The counselees’ self‐reported request for psychological help in genetic counseling for hereditary breast/ovarian cancer: not only psychopathology matters. Psycho‐Oncology, 22(4), 902-910. Link to a downloadable version

van der Spek, N., Vos, J., van Uden-Kraan, C. F., Breitbart, W., Tollenaar, R. A., Cuijpers, P., & Verdonck-de Leeuw, I. M. (2013). Meaning making in cancer survivors: a focus group study. PLoS One, 8(9), e76089. Link to my PhD student’s publication

Vos, J., Stiggelbout, A. M., Oosterwijk, J., Gomez-Garcia, E., Menko, F., Collee, J. M., … & Tibben, A. (2011). A counselee-oriented perspective on risk communication in genetic counseling: explaining the inaccuracy of the counselees’ risk perception shortly after BRCA1/2 test result disclosure. Genetics in Medicine, 13(9), 800-811. Link to a downloadable version

Vos, J., Menko, F., Jansen, A. M., van Asperen, C. J., Stiggelbout, A. M., & Tibben, A. (2011). A whisper-game perspective on the family communication of DNA-test results: a retrospective study on the communication process of BRCA1/2-test results between proband and relatives. Familial cancer, 10, 87-96.Link to the publisher’s website

Vos, J. (2011). Opening the psychological black box in genetic counseling. PhD Thesis. Leiden University. Link to a downloadable version

Vos, J., Otten, W., Van Asperen, C., Jansen, A., Menko, F., & Tibben, A. (2008). The counsellees’ view of an unclassified variant in BRCA1/2: recall, interpretation, and impact on life. Psycho‐Oncology, 17(8), 822-830. Link to the publisher’s website