Integrative Psychotherapy: The Truth of Love in the Service of the Love of the Truth

Abstract

This article is a response to “Therapeutic Relatedness in Transactional Analysis: The Truth of Love or the Love of Truth” by William F. Cornell and Frances Bonds-White (2001). Cornell and Bonds-White critique relational psychotherapeutic approaches in general with particular mention of integrative psychotherapy and reparenting in transactional analysis. This article responds by challenging their understanding of both integrative psychotherapy and reparenting and asserts that neither stands outside of Berne's two models of ego states or his psychotherapeutic intent of altering intrapsychic structure through clarifying interventions. The Parent ego state is discussed as one of the central elements in Berne's development of a two-person personality theory. Questions are raised about the consistency with transactional analysis theory of Melanie Klein's notion of basic hatred in human beings, which is discussed by Cornell and Bonds-White. In addition, Cornell and Bonds-White's consideration of the writings of Erskine and Trautmann is shown to have numerous inaccuracies. Empathy and attunement are defined and described in terms of both the structural and conceptual models of ego states, and contact, as integrated from gestalt therapy theory, is discussed as the distinguishing element of an integrative psychotherapy theory conceptualization of empathy. Points of agreement are also offered.