Psychotherapy as a Human Science

Preface

vii Preface This book is the culmination of many years of research, reflection, and spirited, scholarly communication about psychotherapy as a human science . We began this process with the aim of filling a gap in the current literature on psychotherapy. Much is written today about advances in neuroscience, empirically validated treatments, and quantitative methods for the practice of psychotherapy. Yet scant attention is paid to the role that history, philosophy, and our implicit theoretical assumptions play in the assessment and treatment of human behavior. Our emphasis on psychotherapy as a human science does not mean we have overlooked the significance of neuroscientific studies, or deny the fact that empirically validated treatments have improved the reduction of specific symptoms in some disorders. Rather, our view is that unless psychotherapy as a whole is understood from the perspective of history and philosophy, the contemporary focus on manualized treatments and quantitative research results in a one-sided view of human psychology. Our chief objective, therefore, is to challenge the implicit theoretical assumptions we hold by demonstrating the extensive links that exist between psychotherapeutic and philosophic approaches to human experience, with special emphasis on the enduring importance of the existential-phenomenological tradition. The scale of issues we attempt to incorporate is broad. At the same time, there are important trends in the contemporary literature on psychotherapy to which we have not been able to give our full attention. These include, for example, the discussion of gender, race, and postcolonialism ; attachment studies; and neuroscientific research. All are relevant to understanding clinical theory and practice, but are not viii Preface covered extensively here. The limited discussion of a particular theme or approach should not be interpreted as evidence that we view one perspective as more or less relevant than another. Our choice of what to include — and what to exclude — has been shaped by our desire to provide readers with an in-depth historical analysis of the issues at hand, as well as by restrictions of space and length. Wherever possible we have sought to provide specific references to important contemporary themes and texts that we have been unable sufficiently to expand and elaborate ourselves. A coauthored book like this one is only possible when the authors take on equal tasks and are in broad agreement about most of the pertinent facts and principles involved. This, in turn, is rendered possible by the fact that we came to the study of psychotherapy as a human science from similar backgrounds. We share academic training in the history and philosophy of psychology as well as in clinical psychology . Added to this is a combined knowledge of continental philosophy and the history, theory, and practice of psychoanalysis. These interests are reflected in our writings. Daniel Burston’s previous books (1991, 1996b, 2000) examine key figures in the history of psychoanalysis and phenomenological psychology, while Roger Frie’s previous books (1997, 2003) examine the intersection of phenomenology, psychology , and psychoanalysis. We also bring our own individual perspectives to bear on this subject . The chapters on philosophy draw on Daniel Burston’s interest in religion and its social and political ramifications. The thematic chapters draw on Roger Frie’s approach to understanding the relation between contemporary philosophy, social theory, and clinical practice. In addition, we teach and practice in different settings, and as a result, our work has had a different focus. Daniel Burston chairs the Department of Psychology at Duquesne University, perhaps the only program in clinical psychology in North America that has strong historic roots in phenomenological philosophy. Prior to his training in psychology, Burston studied political theory and philosophy, and the philosophy and psychology of religion. Roger Frie is assistant clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University and on the faculty of the William Alanson White Institute of Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis , and Psychology. Prior to his training as a psychologist, Frie studied social theory, continental philosophy, and the history and theory of psychoanalysis. In addition, he brings to his writing a clinical expertise in the practice and teaching of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis . In the process of writing this book we owe debts of gratitude first and foremost to our families for their support of this endeavor. We also wish to thank Susan Wadsworth-Booth, director of Duquesne University Press, for taking on this project at a time when many academic publishers overlook the relevance of...