Carving dialogue: Bakhtin-driven conduits for one-on-one psychotherapy

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study delves into the conceptual integration of Mikhail Bakhtin’s dialogic principles into the realm of one-on-one dialogue-oriented psychotherapy. Grounded in Bakhtin’s philosophy, which accentuates the inherent dialogic nature of the self, we put forth a comprehensive framework that merges experiential strategies from Schema Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, psychodrama, Cognitive-Analytic Therapy, Self-Confrontation Method, and person-centered approaches. Focal Bakhtinian notions are explored and subsequently incorporated into existing dialogue-oriented psychotherapeutic techniques. Distinct from traditional approaches that compartmentalize dialogue, the Bakhtin-driven framework focuses on the rich tapestry of intertwined positions of each client and is oriented toward promoting conduits for these self-positions to converse. Our framework stems from the idea that facilitating dialogue at the intra- and inter-personal levels is an imperative goal of psychotherapy. The proposed dialogic stance is juxtaposed with existing psychotherapeutic models by endorsing a more dialogue-oriented scheme rather than an adaptive or integrative one. This study aims to elicit debate on the applicative value of implementing dialogic processes in one-on-one psychotherapy, building upon a theoretical premise that celebrates the inner diversity of voices and the constructive role of open communication – whether when joining or dealing with conflicts.