Dialogue 07 from the Evolution of Psychotherapy 1990 - How Does Therapy Cure? featuring James FT Bugental, PhD, and Mary Goulding, MSW.
Moderated by W Michael Munion, MA.
The criterion of reality adaptation as a measure of mental health or pathology is a totally fictitious one, since what reality "really" is remains an arbitrary definition which, in turn, leads to a reification. However, out of these reifications can grow very important practical consequences - both positive and negative ones.
We shall discuss one of the most frequent family processes leading to adolescent psychosis. As a direct consequence of the couple's hidden relational malaise, one of the two parents pseudo-privileges the child over the spouse and instrumentally brings him/her up as the opposite of the spouse in every way. The involuntary cheating about feelings ("imbroglio of affections") enhances the possibility of a psychotic breakdown.
This revision of the original ABCs of RET and cognitive-behavior therapy shows that people's Belief System (B) about their Activating Events (A) of their lives largely contribute to their emotional and behavioral Consequences (C) but that A, B, and C importantly influence and include each other and that all three include interacting cognitive, emotive, and behavioral elements.
Accepted thinking about non-polar, non-psychotic depression has been impaired by ignoring crucial research. This shows that some cases are masked endogenous depression; others are anxiety-based in several ways. Therefore, each case must be investigated to decide appropriate treatment and thus surpass the mediocre results typified in the "Collaborative Study."
Recognition of body-mind unity requires acceptance of the fact that the body in its form and motility expresses the individual's personality as much as behavior and thinking. If there is to be a change in personality, the body must reflect that change. To change bodily attitude, one should work directly with the energy dynamics of the body. By mobilizing a person's energy, one opens up deep feelings that are otherwise inaccessible. This is critical in the treatment of depression which is directly connected to an energetic collapse in the body. The address will describe how one increases an individual's energy to promote his pleasure in life.
Evidence that the hourly and daily variations in our consciousness are related to the wavelike flow of messenger molecules operating on all levels from mind to gene will be reviewed. Stress, psychosomatic problems, and their resolution are a function of how we manage this wave nature of our consciousness. How do we create a new psychotherapy for the future that utilizes these natural windows of the mindbody?
This workshop will demonstrate the clinical application of developmental, self, and object relations theory to psychotherapy with borderline and narcissistic patients - both shorter and longer term. After brief orienting remarks by Dr. Masterson, the participants will present their clinical material for discussion. This material can vary from single interactions to vignettes to longer presentations. Particular attention will be paid to the role of therapeutic neutrality and countertransference. This is a repeat offering of Wednesday's workshop.
Participants should bring dreams, especially those that have animal images in them. Work will consist of using traditional and contemporary Jungian methods of dream-work and active imagination.