AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE REGARDING PSYCHOTHERAPY FROM THE NOOGENIC NEUROSES TOWARDS A MORE GENERALISED SOCIOGENIC PSYCHOSIS

Abstract

We are living in hard and complicated times – unfortunately nobody knows any more what is good and what is bad. Big problems are already looming upon us: AI, global warming, population ageing and chronic inflation, distrust in government, pandemic and so on. In such problematic times, psychologists and psychotherapists, psychiatrists as well – the new “soul-gurus” of our age – should be the first to interrogate themselves about how we can encounter the plethora of issues the new millennium has on offer. As such, what this paper is trying to show, is that psychology can be in the first line of a more general anthropological perspective to understand our existential struggle. Instead of always looking to others, i.e. our clients, we should firstly analyse our own life, our options and beliefs system, our existential philosophy, and the general direction of our actions. After that, and only after that exceptional and unusual turn-around, should we see if there is any place or time or enthusiasm left for therapy and psychological care for others. In other words, we should not forget the old saying: “medice, cura te ipsum!”, and start with that centripetal ego-centeredness and not the other way around. Focusing on one’s own issues, family problems, social or professional developments is to see if everything is in its right place. Only after that should we go out to the world and cure, or help to cure the problems of our fellow citizens. By doing that unconventional psychological and unusual anthropological reconveying under the strict observance of “self-Supervision” and “multiple-self InterVision”, psychologists and therapists will have at least a solid nuclear self and, additionally, an incontrovertible starting point in life. A starting point not diluted, or neglected, or permanently postponed by the luring others (clients for instance), with their endless difficulties, complicated issues or inexhaustible problems, constantly and relentlessly exerted on us?