“PSYCHOTHERAPY” IS IN NEED OF A NEW NAME
REFLECTIONS YARO, JUNE 2016
“The truth learned from another is of
no value and the only truth, which is living and effective, which is of value;
is the truth that we ourselves discover”
Tibetan Buddhist Masters
BEGINNINGS
The most ancient thinking about the way we develop as human
beings, is recorded in the oral teachings by Tibetan Buddhist Masters. Today,
these teachings resemble a lot the explorations of the Existential writers like
Carl Rogers, Rollo May A. Maslow, Fritz Perls and others. These modern day
Masters agree with the old Masters that we will not be able to understand human
consciousness and behaviour (as well as the disturbances) through the so called
Cartesian-Newtonian science. This science is suitable to the physical realm and
not applicable to all human understanding.
Granted, that the recent brain research has begun to clearly connect
human behaviour with brain functioning, but the area of consciousness and
unconsciousness is still a big mystery to most research.
In this age of alternative therapies, we are still dipping
into the ‘old’ philosophical theories of the existentialists like F. Nietzsche,
Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Martin Buber, Carl Jung, Erich Fromm, Karen Horney,
Melanie Klein, A. Maslow and many others.
Yet, those of us who studied and practice gestalt therapy,
have realised (from experience) that ‘truth’ is not contained in the vast
literature but in the connection or contact with our fellow human being.
THE AESTHETICS OF CONTACT
In the practice of psychotherapy (to use a common word) we
learned that the main key component of healing is the quality of the
relationship we develop with our client (see the previous blog post). However,
how do we investigate and test this truth? It is a phenomenon that arises and
disappears around us at all times.
The reply to the above question is: to connect first with
your senses. We see, hear, taste, smell, hear, touch and feel the world around
us. We give names to the various items we get in contact with. We classify and
compare all with similar objects and thus become familiar with our world as we
grow up and this familiar world becomes our reality.
Yet, many say that our senses do not reveal the whole truth;
for example: we may be walking on a country road and in the distance we notice
a fleck of green standing out in a yellow field. This little green fleck
appears to be like a tree. The idea of the tree in our mind is the result of
our mind coordinating various memories of green and it comes up now as a tree.
We have combined several elements of memory, habit, earlier experiences etc,
that led us to form an image of a tree. Nevertheless, these are only
approximations of a probable object and if we walk closer and closer it may be
seen as a tree; but this is not a certainty, on closer look we may discover
that the green fleck turns out to be a green tent, a painted roof or anything
green but a tree.
Therefore, reality may be understood as a mystery. We cannot
think of anything, imagine anything, feel anything without immediate
INTERPRETATION. This actually ‘destroys or deconstructs’ all into elements
making reality inexplicable – it may be said: IT IS MAGIC!
PSYCHOTHERAPY
The term psychotherapy is derived from Ancient Greek psyche
(ψυχή meaning "breath; spirit; soul") and therapeia (θεραπεία
"healing; medical treatment"). The Oxford English Dictionary defines
it now as "The treatment of disorders of the mind or personality by
psychological methods.”
So, psychotherapy is the use of psychological methods,
particularly when based on regular personal interaction, to help a person
change and overcome problems in desired ways. Psychotherapy aims to increase
each individual's well-being and mental health, to resolve or mitigate
troublesome behaviours, beliefs, compulsions, thoughts, or emotions, and to
improve relationships and social functioning. Certain psychotherapies are
considered evidence-based for treating some diagnosed mental disorders.
Today,there are over a thousand different treatments named psychotherapies,
some being minor variations while others are based on very different
conceptions of psychology, ethics (how to live) or self-help techniques. Most
involve one-to-one sessions between client and therapist but some are conducted
with groups, including families. Psychotherapists may be mental health
professionals or come from a variety of other backgrounds, and depending on the
jurisdiction may be legally regulated, voluntarily regulated or unregulated
(and the term itself may be protected or not).
GENERAL CRITIQUES
Some are sceptical of the healing power of psychotherapeutic
relationships. Some dismiss psychotherapy altogether in the sense of a
scientific discipline requiring professional practitioners, instead favouring
biomedical treatments. Others have pointed out ways in which the values and
techniques of therapists can be harmful as well as helpful to clients (or
indirectly to other people in a client's life).
On the other hand, some argue that psychotherapy is
under-utilized and under-researched by contemporary psychiatry and psychology
despite offering more promise than stagnant medication. In 2015 the US National
Institute of Mental Health is allocating only 5.4% of its budget to new
clinical trials of psychotherapies (medication trials are largely funded by
pharmaceutical companies). This is the case in most countries, despite plentiful narrative evidence that psychotherapy can work and that
patients are more likely to prefer them.
Further critiques have emerged from feminist,
constructionist and discursive sources. Key to these is the issue of power. In
this regard there is a concern that clients are persuaded—both inside and
outside the consulting room—to understand themselves and their difficulties in
ways that are consistent with therapeutic ideas. This means that alternative
ideas (e.g., feminist, economic, spiritual) are sometimes implicitly
undermined. Critics suggest that we idealize the situation when we think of
therapy only as a helping relationship - arguing instead that it is
fundamentally a political practice, in that some cultural ideas and practices
are supported while others are undermined or disqualified, and that while it is
seldom intended, the therapist-client relationship always participates in
society's power relations and political dynamics. A noted academic who espoused
this criticism was Michel Foucault.
GESTALT THERAPY
Gestalt Therapy is a fairly new development in the modern
experiential and existential therapies. The founder, Dr. Fritz Perls was a true
‘magician’ in working with a small group. When we look at his films made in the
70’s at Esalen CA, where he worked and trained therapists in the new method, it
is evident that Perls' real power was in his capacity to make contact with the
essence of people.
In a real sense, Perls took therapy off the couch and
introduced the new structure where the
therapist and client are facing each other.
A client of Fritz wrote: "His obsession became finding the truth
and beauty in the world. His greatest
joy was when he released love entrapped by hate and fear. He had faith that when the negative was
purged, the basic good of man emerged" That can be interpreted as
psychomagic!
The use of the ‘Empty
Chair’ by Fritz, was a new tool that defined the practice. This technique or chairwork is
typically used when a client might have deep rooted emotional problems from
someone or something in their life, such as relationships with themselves, with
aspects of their personality, their concepts, ideas, feelings, dreams etc., or
other people in their lives. The purpose of this technique is to get the client
to think about their emotions and attitudes. Common things the patient
addresses in the empty chair are another person, aspects of their personality,
a certain feeling etc. They may also move between chairs and act out two or
more sides of a discussion, typically involving the client and person
significant to them. It uses a passive approach to opening up the client’s
emotions and pent up feelings so they can let go of what they have been holding
back. The purpose of the technique is so the client will become more in touch
with their feelings and have an emotional conversation that clears up any long
held feelings or reactions to the person or object in the chair. When used effectively, it provides an
emotional release and lets the client move forward in their life.
There is no doubt that this method deserves the name: PSYCHOMAGIC!
PSYCHOMAGIC
Psychomagic is the name of a therapeutic practice used by
Alejandro Jodorowsky. The technique is considered useful in psychotherapy. It
combines art, Eastern philosophies (particularly Zen Buddhism), mysticism,
shamanic ritual and modern psychotherapy to heal patients with emotional
problems. The principle relies on the belief that the unconscious mind takes a
symbolic act as a fact. So a symbolic act could accordingly help solve some
types of non-rational conflicts. These acts are prescribed by the therapist
after having studied the patient's personality and family tree.
Jodorowsky moved into this therapeutic work in three areas:
psychomagic, psychogenealogy and initiatic practice. Psychomagic aims to heal psychological wounds suffered in life.
This therapy is based on the belief that the performance of certain acts can
directly act upon the unconscious mind, releasing it from a series of traumas,
some of which practitioners of the therapy believe are passed down from
generation to generation. (I suggest that you reflect on the ‘Inner Child’
theory.)
Psychogenealogy
includes the studying of the client's personality and family tree in order to
best address their specific sources. It is similar, in its phenomenological
approach to genealogy, to the Family Constellations pioneered by Bert
Hellinger.
Initiatic Practice, this
consists of determining the person’s problem using such diagnostic tool as the
Tarot cards, dream journal and some healing rituals based on shamanic
practices.
Jodorowsky has several books on his therapeutic methods,
including Psicomagia: La trampa sagrada (Psychomagic: The Sacred Trap) and his
autobiography, La Danza de la Realidad (The Dance of Reality), which he was
filming as a feature-length film in March 2012. To date he has published more
than 23 novels and philosophical treatises, along with dozens of articles and
interviews. His books are widely read in Spanish and French, but are for the
most part unknown to English-speaking audiences. (Wikipedia).
In conclusion, we all know, in this world of instant
information, that not all alternative therapies nor medical drugs can solve all
the complex issues of a human being. However, Psychomagic therapy is another
useful tool that when used well, can solve or ameliorate many sufferings in
individuals families and even societies.
The July issue of this
blog will describe ways of practicing
PSYCHOMAGIC.
