Making Sense Together: The Intersubjective Approach to Psychotherapy

by Peter Buirski

As in raising children, in which each unique parent and child pair emerges from the ongoing, mutually influencing relationship, so it is with therapists and patients. Peter Buirski and Pamela Haglund argue that intersubjectivity is founded on two assumptions: First, our moment-by-moment experience of ourselves and the world emerges within a dynamic, fluid context of others; and, second, that we can never observe things as they exist in isolation. It follows, then, that therapy is not a search for some objective truth, but what is most helpful is the quality of the relationship constructed in therapy, the personal engagement of patient and therapist. Practicing intersubjectively produces an understanding and appreciation of process. Time pressures or goal-directedness do not promote unfolding and illuminating. Patients are striving for health, attempting to correct disappointing, destructive, or traumatizing experiences with their original caregivers, and long for an antidote to ward off such painful affects as shame or self-loathing. From the intersubjective perspective, resistance, or attempts to thwart the therapist's efforts, may be seen as healthy striving for self-protection. Demonstrating these points with vivid clinical examples, Buirski and Haglund discuss the key aspects of the relational model and offer clear and practical guidelines for therapists.

Genres: Psychology

282 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

Reviews

[Audrey Francoeur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lecture facile qui rappelle l’importance de marcher dans les pas du patient, tout en considérant comment il s’est organisé à partir de l’enfance. La relation est centrale et lecture qui fait du bien. L’approche est selon ma subjectivité ;), pleine de sens, humble et pallie aux limites des autres approches qui négligent la subjectivité du thérapeute. Concepts bien vulgarisés et plusieurs exemples.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring message about the power of the therapist-client dyad. Covers transference, countertransference, tracking themes and patterns, and helping clients regulate affect.