"If psychotherapy has anything to offer — and this should always be in question — it should be something aside from the dominant trends in the culture. And this means now that its practitioners should not be committed either to making money or to trivializing the past or to finding a science of the soul."
-- Adam Phillips. Adam Phillips is a psychoanalyst and the author, most recently, of "Going Sane: Maps of Happiness." The quote comes from his article titled “A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Measure.” You may read the entire article at www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/01/opinion/edphillips.php
The above illustration is by Debbie Dreschler.
The above illustration is by Debbie Dreschler.
1 comments:
Years and years ago I had a startling conversation with my sister’s fiance on the nature of psychology. Her then-fiance was studying linguistics at the graduate level and as part of his induction needed to take several psychology courses, of which were a first for him. One of his professors (perhaps several, I can’t remember) posited his notion to the class that in a better world, and as a future goal, there would be no need for psychologists if people were trained to simply listen and speak to one another on a more authentic level. Frankly, I was appalled by what he was saying as I was in therapy myself at the time and could not imagine telling anyone, save my therapist, my secrets and fears. To this day I still cannot imagine this (although I am no longer in therapy). This saddens and intrigues me. Was this professor overly idealistic? Is it possible to attain such a society wherein trust, mutual understanding, and discretion are commonplace – especially within the capitalistic context? I wonder if we are any closer to that ideal today and if not, how we can get there. How do we build community and, even more, deeper friendships?
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