Ways and means of the phenomenological attitude in a field perspective. The Secret Longing: a pragmatic clinical compass

Abstract

In this paper the author tries to give a sense of how and why the phenomenological attitude, when applied in a field perspective, is useful and operates in and on the therapeutic dyad, thus having an impact on the client’s lived world. He starts by explaining the meaning of the phenomenological attitude in a therapeutical setting which he summarises as a deep listening and a genuine curiosity of the given of the situation. He then describes the therapist’s experience in the first person when engaged in a phenomenological attitude and its polarity of listening and reflecting. This attitude helps the therapist to meet their client differently, thus changing the whole field and possibly having a significant impact on the client. For this to happen, the author offers a pragmatic compass – the Secret Longing – which he has developed with Florence Belasco at their Institute and which speaks directly to the heart of the therapist. He details how it can be applied on a clinical level, supporting the therapist in working on their primary task towards the client when adopting a field perspective. For the therapist, when caught at some stage in a relational impasse with the client, this task consists in listening more and being able to perceive and welcome the Secret Longing which is operating in the relationship. This is precisely what helps to change the ‘intersubjective matrix’ from which the selves and worldviews of both client and therapist are constantly emerging. Keywords: phenomenology, field, Secret Longing, responsiveness, relationship.