Conventional and contemporary approaches to psychotherapy: Freud meets Skinner, Janov, and others.

Abstract

A dialogue ensues between an advocate of traditional psychoanalytic psychotherapy and a proponent of some newer therapeutic modalities-specifically, encounter groups, behavior modification, and primal (scream) therapy. The two speakers begin by agreeing on various important sources of mutual prejudice that might color their discussion. From their respective vantage points, they then raise issues concerning the nature of the relationship between patient and therapist; the techniques employed; the role of abreaction; the importance of diagnosis; and the place of thought and feeling, and of action and experience. They become aware that their dialogue, at times, has turned into a debate, and they end by avoiding the more typical divisiveness and instead agreeing on the need for integration of their dijerent viewpoints.

Freud and Modern Psychology

“…But perhaps the most encouraging trend of all in present-day psychoanalysis is the growing tendency to find links between psychoanalytic and other therapeutic conceptions (see, for good examples, Wachtel, 1977;Appelbaum, 1979;and Shectman, 1977). Shectman's dialogue between Freud and contemporary nonanalytic approaches is particularly noteworthy for its acknowledgment of the unspoken competition between Freudian psychotherapy and the newer methods and its acknowledgment that conventional psychotherapists are often quick to label the competition as quacks (just as Freud was labeled a quack).…”

Erfaringer i primalterapi En intervjuundersøkelse av primalpasienter med tidligere terapierfaring

“…Vi deler den kritiske holdning ogsi andre har gitt uttrykk for (Nichols & Zax 1977, Rosen 1977, Schectman 1977. Erfaringene med primalterapi kan virke befruktende pH vanlig psykoterapeutisk praksis.…”

Decision analysis. Clinical art or Clinical Science

“…Assessing the fidelity of implementation is crucial for knowing what is being evaluated ( Abt Associates , 1976;Kolata , 1977). (Schectman , 1977). A lesson here is always to keep systematic record s in anticipation of the 2-2 day when someone will have the time , resources , and inclination to conduct a retrospective evaluation .…”

“…Enormous amounts of effort have gone into validating theoretical assumptions such as: stable personality traits exist (Mischel , 1977); feedback facilitates learning -; (McKeachie , 1976); psychopathology is related to unconscious libidinal and aggressive wishes (Silverman , 1976); and selfawareness is necessary for improvement in therapy (Schectman , 1977).…”