Editorial: Method in our madness, or madness in our method? The many faces of psychotherapy

Abstract

The Editorial notes that the papers in this issue pluralistically juxtapose at least two methodological insights in new ways, fulfilling the bridging, and growing edge, function of the Journal. Previous expressions of this are outlined, focusing especially on values and the grounds of knowledge in psychotherapy. The significances of the papers are then discussed: the affirmation of constructivism against objectivist use of field theory in Geoff Heath's review paper, 'A constructivist attempts to talk to the field'; Judy Ryde's subtle pluralistic exploration of working with difference in supervision, 'Supervising across difference'; Drs Perez-de-Albeniz's and Jeremy Holmes' paper, 'Meditation: concepts, effects and uses in therapy', which deploys the scientific tools of medical-neurological analysis and quantitative studies precisely upon something commonly assumed to be outside of such modes of enquiry, namely, meditation and meditation techniques; and Marion Minerbo's post-modern turn to psychoanalysis in 'Post-modern forms of subjectivity', which gives an intriguing post-modern slant upon the modes of enquiry of psychoanalysis, and is an important challenge to ordinary causalistic models of psychoanalytic interpretation, for symbolic choices within a world of public meanings create our identity. Finally, current political developments in the Journal with the European Association for Psychotherapy, and Taylor and Francis, Carfax Publishers are touched upon.