Personal sources for theories of psychotherapy: A bid for eclecticism

Personality and psychotherapy theorists choose certain elements to emphasize in their theories. A major, though usually unrecognized, source for such elements is the personal life of the theorist. Examples are drawn from nine theorists in the areas of family experiences, personal relationships, special experiences, and significant clients. The overall thesis is that an eclectic orientation to psychotherapy may be most appropriate since: (a) all theories emphasize certain elements (and ignore others), which is (b) often aided by (and limited by) the theorist's own life and experiences. Thus, if the client's personal life resembles the theorist's personal life, then the emphases developed by that theorist are most likely to be helpful to that client.