Psychotherapy, Lost in the Wilderness... -- Psych, Soc
*
Psychotherapists have recently met in what the Times calls a "landmark meeting," trying to decide where exactly the field should go from here. With aging luminaries and a conflicting push to have scientifically testable methods on the one hand while still embracing the unquantifiable relationship between the therapist and patient on the other, this field has plenty of challenges to overcome.
In fairness, the field of human augmentation, with the often radically differing perspectives of its various researchers and their various specialties, would probably have similiar troubles -- if most of its researchers and enthusiasts were even aware of each other. And if there weren't all too much scientifically verifiable data available in those "hard" softtech disciplines whose claims are being tested.
The curious thing about the field of psychology, however, is that it could easily become one of the most effective and influential of human enhancement disciplines if numbers of its practitioners embraced the idea of helping people become "better than well." But evidently we haven't yet reached that point. Not necessarily because of a sheer lack of imagination, but possibly because many therapists are still buried in all of the badly wounded patients they can help... and those they can't.
The Times article ends with the following words:
Strangely enough, I have a feeling we're standing in it. Or at least, we know how to point the way.
Future Imperative
Psychotherapists have recently met in what the Times calls a "landmark meeting," trying to decide where exactly the field should go from here. With aging luminaries and a conflicting push to have scientifically testable methods on the one hand while still embracing the unquantifiable relationship between the therapist and patient on the other, this field has plenty of challenges to overcome.
In fairness, the field of human augmentation, with the often radically differing perspectives of its various researchers and their various specialties, would probably have similiar troubles -- if most of its researchers and enthusiasts were even aware of each other. And if there weren't all too much scientifically verifiable data available in those "hard" softtech disciplines whose claims are being tested.
The curious thing about the field of psychology, however, is that it could easily become one of the most effective and influential of human enhancement disciplines if numbers of its practitioners embraced the idea of helping people become "better than well." But evidently we haven't yet reached that point. Not necessarily because of a sheer lack of imagination, but possibly because many therapists are still buried in all of the badly wounded patients they can help... and those they can't.
The Times article ends with the following words:
Across the street at Disneyland, where just about any metaphor is available for the taking, Dr. Siegel was working out the meaning of the park for himself. A native of Los Angeles, he has many memories of visiting as a child, perhaps nowhere more so than the circular drive in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle.
"The circle of choice," he said, looking around. "This is where you decide, where you think about your mood and which way you want to go - to Frontierland, Tomorrowland."
By all appearances in Anaheim, the field of psychotherapy has arrived at the circle of choice.
The question is, How to get to Tomorrowland?
Strangely enough, I have a feeling we're standing in it. Or at least, we know how to point the way.
Future Imperative
posted by Ralph Cerchione | Wednesday, December 28, 2005
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home