EP00 Topical Panel 13 - Therapeutic Neutrality vs Social Commitment - James Hillman, PhD; Cloe Madanes, Lic. Psychol; James Masterson, MD; Thomas Szasz, MD
- Average Rating:
- Not yet rated
- Topic Areas:
- Topical Panels | Psychotherapy | Cultural and Social Contexts | Ethical Practice | Social Issues | Sociology
- Categories:
- Evolution of Psychotherapy | Evolution of Psychotherapy 2000 | Pioneers in Couples and Family Therapy
- Faculty:
- James Hillman, PhD | Cloe Madanes, HDL, LIC | James F. Masterson, MD | Thomas Szasz, MD
- Duration:
- 55 Minutes
- Format:
- Audio Only
- Original Program Date:
- May 28, 2000
- License:
- Never Expires.
Description
Description:
Educational Objectives:
- To compare and contrast clinical and philosphical perspectives of experts.
*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*
Outline:
Panel Introduction: Therapeutic Neutrality vs. Social Commitment
-
Panelists: James Hillman, Cloe Madanes, James Masterson, Thomas Szasz
-
Moderator outlines format: short remarks followed by audience questions
-
Hillman opens with context: therapy has always been political, whether acknowledged or not
James Hillman: Therapy and Politics
-
Cites R.D. Laing and others who view therapy as inherently political
-
Argues that avoiding political/religious topics in therapy mirrors outdated social norms
-
Suggests some disorders may stem from a suppressed political instinct
-
Encourages therapists to engage more fully with clients' political dimensions
Cloe Madanes: Therapy as Subversive and Protective
-
Says clients come to therapy to escape dissatisfaction and challenge the status quo
-
Therapy offers space to discuss what’s unacceptable in society—making it inherently subversive
-
Emphasizes therapy's role in protecting human rights (e.g., children from institutionalization, patients from harmful medications)
James Masterson: Clarifying Neutrality
-
Supports values shared but distinguishes between clinical neutrality and political involvement
-
Says neutrality helps avoid distorting patients’ material, but therapists must still fight for the value of therapy
-
Shares personal experiences with repression and advocates for political activism in the field
Thomas Szasz: Neutrality and Power
-
Notes therapists aren’t neutral once they publish or share beliefs
-
Therapy can liberate or repress—it depends on the therapist-patient dynamic
-
Critiques medical control of drug access and the paternalism of involuntary treatment
Audience Q&A: Drugs, Social Work, and Political Expression
-
On psychologists prescribing meds: Szasz argues for total freedom of drug access
-
On social work's influence: raised but not deeply explored
-
On political beliefs in therapy: Hillman says personal reactions should be acknowledged; Madanes advocates turning anger into action
Cross-Cultural Perspectives
-
Audience member calls out lack of cultural diversity in therapy discussions
-
Hillman agrees therapy is rooted in Euro-American thinking and must evolve
-
Panelists support cross-cultural retreats and greater awareness in practice
Closing Thoughts
-
Audience asks if therapy helps clients adapt to an unjust society
-
Masterson: therapy helps clients build a stable self to face injustice
-
Panel agrees therapy should support self-discovery and resilience
-
Session closes with gratitude and thanks to panel and audience
Credits
Faculty
James Hillman, PhD Related Seminars and Products
James Hillman, PhD, who received his Ph.D. degree from the Univeristy of Zurich, has served as honorary secretary of the International Association for Analytical Psychology and for 10 years was Director of Studies at the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich. He has written 12 books and was nomiated for a Pulitzer prize.
Cloe Madanes, HDL, LIC Related Seminars and Products
Cloé Madanes, HDL, LIC, is a world-renowned innovator and teacher of family and strategic therapy and one of the originators of the strategic approach to family therapy. She has authored seven books that are classics in the field: Strategic Family Therapy; Behind the One-Way Mirror; Sex, Love and Violence; The Violence of Men; The Secret Meaning of Money; The Therapist as Humanist, Social Activist and Systemic Thinker; and Relationship Breakthrough. She has presented her work at professional conferences all over the world and has given keynote addresses for The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference, the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy; the National Association of Social Workers, The Erickson Foundation, the California Psychological Association and many other national and international conferences. Madanes has won several awards for distinguished contribution to psychology and has counseled outstanding individuals from all walks of life.
James F. Masterson, MD Related Seminars and Products
James F. Masterson (M.D., Jefferson Medical School, 1951) was Director of the Masterson Group, P.C., which specializes in the treatment of adolescent and adult character disorders. Additionally, he was Director of the Masterson Institute (formerly Character Disorder Foundation); attending psychiatrist at New York Hospital, Payne Whitney Clinic; and Adjunct Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Cornell University Medical College. Masterson has authored seven books and edited two volumes, mostly on the topic of psychoanalytic approaches to character disoreders and adolescents. His seminal work on the borderline personality has made him one of the most influential and studied practitioners of modern psychoanalytic methods.
Thomas Szasz, MD Related Seminars and Products
Thomas S. Szasz, (M.D., University of Cincinnati, 1944) was Professor of Psychiatry at the State University of New York, Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse. He was recipient of numerous awards, including the Humanist fo the Year Award from the American Humanist Association and the Distinguished Service Award from teh American Institute for Public Service. He has received a number of honorary doctorates and lectureships, and served on the editorial board or as consulting editor for ten journals.
Szasz has authored approximately 400 articles, book chapters, reviews, letters to the editor and columns. He has written 19 books.