Abstract
This article addresses philosophical and methodological issues with regard to the question, “What is good psychotherapy?” Applying the ideas of Richard Bernstein, Hans-Georg Gadamer, Ludwig Wittgenstein, and other philosophers to the problem of discerning good psychotherapy, the author explores the conflict between foundationalism and the dynamic, interpersonal, and value-laden character of psychotherapy. The distinction between scientific knowledge, technical knowledge, and practical knowledge is also introduced, and implications with respect to the empirically validated treatment and manualized psychotherapy movements are discussed. An alternative is offered to the “good psychotherapy” question as currently posed, and examples of qualitative research exploring the meaning of “good therapy” as understood by specific therapists and clients are provided.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
