Affiliation:
1. Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Abstract
This paper explores how psychotherapy, with its inherent focus on the self, may inadvertently contribute to problematic selfishness. By comparison with religious traditions which have encouraged humility and dedication to serving others, psychotherapeutic schools have historically emphasized ways to meet one’s own needs. We review here the evolution of ego-centric approaches toward more relational and growth- and virtue-oriented ones, before considering four clinical contexts which risk fostering undue absorption with oneself and one’s therapy. A greater awareness of these risks can help clinicians and patients appreciate the role of moral values, world views, and religious commitments in shaping the direction of their work.
Reference40 articles.
1. Batson, C. Daniel (1991). The Altruism Question: Toward a Social-Psychological Answer, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
2. Psychotherapy and Religious Values;Bergin;Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology,1980
3. Positive Responses to Benefit and Harm: Bringing Forgiveness and Gratitude into Cognitive Psychotherapy;Bono;Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy,2006
4. Dependency on the Psychotherapist;Clemens;Journal of Psychiatric Practice,2010
5. Experiences of Christian Clients in Secular Psychotherapy: A Mixed-Methods Investigation;Cragun;Journal of Counseling Psychology,2012