IC04 Keynote 01 - The Therapist as Humanist, Social Activist and Systemic Thinker - Cloe Madanes, Lic. Psychol.

Description:

From Freud to Erickson to the current practice of psychotherapy, the nature of human problems has remained the same. What has changed is which problems we consider are within the realm of psychotherapy to elucidate. When Erickson introduced the concept of directive therapy, the field changed, not only in terms of how to do therapy, but also in terms of what are the issues a therapist must address. Is there a place for the concept of evil, for the practice of justice, and for the spiritual realm in therapy? What do we know today that we didn't know a hundred years ago? How can we preserve the existence of the therapist as humanist, social activist and systemic thinker?

Educational Objectives:

1. Given a patient, outline a humanistic treatment plan.
2. To list three methods for working with social violence.

*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*

Outline:

Introduction of Cloe Madanes

• Introduced by Jeffrey Zeig as a frequent keynote speaker and "anti-hypnotist" who wakes people up.

• Cloe humorously comments on following charismatic speakers and thanks Zeig and the Erickson family.

• Describes her mission: systems-based, communication-focused therapy inspired by Viktor Frankl, Milton Erickson, and community mental health ideals.

Challenges in Modern Psychotherapy

• Critiques managed care for minimizing therapy quality and favoring unskilled practitioners.

• Warns against overreliance on psychopharmacology and superficial brain research.

• Condemns social services for removing children without due process and profiting from institutionalization.

Institutionalization and Social Services

• Shares cases of children placed in foster care/institutions without therapy or support.

• Recalls her failed attempt to reform a Virginia institution driven by financial incentives.

• Stresses the need for community and family therapy over coercive institutional practices.

Values and Beliefs in Therapy

• Urges therapists to reject limiting beliefs and learned helplessness.

• Identifies harmful belief patterns: permanence, pervasiveness, and personalization of problems.

• Advocates belief in change, continual self-questioning, and modeling resilient mentors like Frankl and Erickson.

Therapeutic Success Stories

• Describes helping a suicidal man regain hope and start dating.

• Supervises a complex case involving a suicidal, epileptic woman—improvement through paradoxical interventions.

• Treats a 14-year-old anorexic girl by shifting focus to her father’s influence in the family.

Qualities of an Effective Therapist

• Must love therapy, be confident in creativity, and embrace sudden insights.

• Should stand for truth, empathize deeply, and lead with imagination.

• Needs humor, an appreciation of paradox, and the ability to spark change.

• Ends by inviting audience questions and expressing hope for more humane institutions for children.