Health
Psychology
Therapy
Transference
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Alliance
Therapeutic Relationship
Countertransference
Critics Perspective
This is from Amy Wenzel, Handbook of Cognitive Behvioral Therapy (2021) chapter on therapeutic relationship, & special attention to @JonathanShedler ☺️ and it turned on she shares much of the emphasis on alliance, including transference and countertransference.
The reference made is Jonathan’s post from 2015
psychologytoday.com
psychologytoday.com
I share below the entirety of the brief section titled “ A Critic’s Perspective” in the chapter. I find it interesting and compelling that Jonathan is chosen here as an outstanding example of a critic, as I as many others have found what he has to say compelling.
My integrative side also likes it when I see different modalities interact with each other, highlighting similarities and differences, similarities within differences, and differences with in similarities. I enjoy conversations.
Finally, it’s interesting to see how much Dr. Wenzel resonates with Jonathan’s points, in addition to the usual “well we CBT therapists do it too!” regarding issues like focus on affect, alliance, or egalitarian collaboration.
Anyway, see below for your enjoyment
Anyway, see below for your enjoyment
“Despite these aspects that have been lauded by many experts as being essential in developing a strong therapeutic relationship, some critics continue to be skeptical about the importance that cognitive behavioral therapists place on the therapeutic relationship.
“One such critic is the renowned psychodynamic therapist Jonathan Shedler, who has often contributed critical thought about the comparison between psychodynamic psychotherapy and CBT. In one of his blog posts, Dr. Shedler highlighted an article about CBT that indicated that
“ in order to build a strong therapeutic alliance, cognitive behavioral therapists must work collaboratively with clients, ask for feedback, and demonstrate warmth and interest in their clients’ lives. Shedler wrote in response, ‘I expect that much from my hair stylist or
‘real estate broker. From a psychotherapist, I expect something more. The CBT thought leader seemed to have no concept that the therapy relationship is a window into the patient’s inner world, and a relationship laboratory and sanctuary where lifelong patterns can be recognized
“and understood, and new ones created.’ I do not know the original article to which Dr. Shedler is referring, and his criticism could certainly be interpreted as being a bit harsh. Nevertheless, in this narrative, he highlights just how crucial the therapeutic relationship is,
“as what happens between the therapist and client usually reflects the way in which the client interacts with others outside the therapy session. He also points out that the therapeutic relationship provides an invaluable corrective learning experience for the client to have a
“different kind of relationship with the therapist that can generalize to the client’s current and future relationships. In other words, it is important for all therapists, including cognitive behavioral therapists, to attend closely to the interactional pattern that unfolds
“ in the therapeutic relationship, to notice the reactions that the client evokes in them, and to use these observations to create a different relationship from one the client might have had in their life, which will ultimately help improve their relationships.
“Dr. Shedler ends his blog post by stating ‘Some people may be satisfied with therapists who ‘work collaboratively’ while conducting therapy according to an instruction manual. . . . Those who want to change their destiny will want a therapist with the self-awareness, knowledge,
“and courage to see and speak about what matters.’ I could not agree more with this insightful statement. In the section below on clinical guidelines, I provide some guidance as to ways to apply CBT within the context of the therapeutic relationship
“to ‘see and speak about what matters.’”
/fin
/fin
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