Psychotherapy Revolution: Translating Symptoms into Gifts

This article proposes four revolutions in psychotherapy. The first revolution invites therapists to focus on building client’s strengths rather than patching up weaknesses. The second revolution proposes a technique of translating symptoms into gifts. The third revolution invites therapists to consider alternative goals of psychotherapy other than returning the client to previous levels of functioning. Finally, the fourth revolution challenges the dictum of psychotherapy training that therapists should only teach their clients how to fish, metaphorically speaking, rather than giving them fish. Case studies are offered focusing particularly on clients diagnosed with Major Depression and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.