How Psychotherapy Heals: The Process of Intensive Psychotherapy

Abstract

The process of intensive psychotherapy is carefully dissected by a truly dedicated therapist. Although orthodox in his orientation, he has sufficient flexibility to make his contribution worthwhile for therapists of all persuasions. Even an eclectic psychiatrist, whose armamentarium includes somatic therapies, will find much here to help him in the psychodynamic understanding of some of his most difficult patients. It is rightfully pointed out that therapists who drift into long-term psychotherapy with patients should have the proper training. It is also noted, however, that there are no specific diseases in psychiatry, but only patterns or clusters of symptoms. The therapeutic process is, therefore, seen as an attempt to get to its core, an emotional immaturity whose roots lie in childhood. This then necessitates the development of a regressive transference situation so that infantile conflicts can be relived and relieved in a corrective emotional setting. Problems of countertransference, including the conduct