Acting-out: its functions within analytic group psychotherapy and its transformation into dreams

In group processes, acting-out has diverse functions, all of them equally important. It has an intrapsychic, interpersonal, and group dynamic function. Not only may it be understood as a form of resistance, but also in its communicative and reparative potential. The authors investigate the thesis that acting-out also contains the seed for change, thus helping patients divest themselves of pathological behavior. Using a group process as an example, this article shows how boundaries can be drawn between past and present experiences while using the communicative and reparative functions of acting-out. Unconscious psychodynamics can then be transformed from acting-out into dreams.     

Self psychology and its relationship to the practice of group psychotherapy

This article discusses self psychology as a theory of personality development and conceptual framework for diagnosing psychopathology. It seeks to show how specific components of this theory, including selfobjects, bipolar self, mirroring, tension arc, and nuclear self, can be compared with the "curative factors" of group psychotherapy, as presented by Yalom (1975). These include altruism, group cohesiveness, universality, interpersonal learning, guidance, and family reenactment. Existing literature is used to explain both theories and develop their synthesis.     

Change in self-concept differentiation after psychotherapy and its relation to psychological maladjustment

The research was carried out with a group of 105 psychotherapy participants, diagnosed with neurosis or personality disorders, and 36 controls. Analysis supported the hypotheses that self-concept differentiation (SCD) decreases after psychotherapeutic interventions and that the reduction in SCD is positively correlated with an improvement in neurotic symptoms and neurotic personality traits.     

Taoism and psychotherapy

An attempt is made in this paper to apply the principals of Taoism to the practice of psychotherapy. The Eastern approach to the nature of experience is described in order for the therapist to become more present for himself as well as for the patient. The relationship of insight to the process of change is explored, contrasting Eastern notions of transcendent liberation to the traditional psychoanalytic model of personal transformation, which has been viewed as curing the patient. Taoist precepts are described, comparing the Eastern view of the enlightened teacher to an ideal therapist. Finally, fifteen Zen tenets are described, as outlined by Holmes and Horioka, with an effort made to relate each tenet to the experience of being a therapist.     

Socrates and psychotherapy

This article examines the basic philosophical ideas of Socrates and how these ideas form a basic part of the philosophical foundation of psychotherapy. His influence is analyzed by observing how Kierkegaard and Nietzsche view his contribution. The controversial thesis of I.F. Stone's recent book,The Trial of Socrates, is used to re-examine the man and his philosophy.He teaches moral philosophy at Notre Dame College in Baltimore, Maryland.     

Evidence and psychotherapy

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) and its relevance to psychotherapy and counselling are discussed. It is argued that much that is important to psychotherapy is ignored in EBM. Thus, tradition, custom, intuition and love are all important in psychotherapy. Also there are many sources of evidence that go beyond the positivistic notion of evidence in EBM. It is concluded that EBM has little relevance to psychotherapy and counselling.