Psychotherapy and its alternatives: Commentary on a critique

Article


Rustin, M. 2015. Psychotherapy and its alternatives: Commentary on a critique. European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling. 17 (4), pp. 418-428.
AuthorsRustin, M.
Abstract

In this commentary, Michael Rustin reviews the articles in the symposium, outlining their main aims and arguments. He goes on to provide some critical reflections, asking questions about the key concept of the ‘therapeutic state’. He notes that little attention is given to psychoanalytic or other psychological theories of the mind, as distinct from the biological models which are the main object of criticism in the symposium. He argues that just as it is justifiable and useful to take account of theories of the mind in considering issues of mental health and therapy, so it is desirable also to take account of the structures of society which have responsibility for generating conditions of mental well- or ill-being, and to reflect on how these may be changed. The commentary argues that the counter-cultural and somewhat ‘post-modern’ critical approach which informs the symposium can only form part of a sufficient response to the problems which the symposium identifies.

JournalEuropean Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling
Journal citation17 (4), pp. 418-428
ISSN1469-5901
1364-2537
Year2015
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Accepted author manuscript
Web address (URL)http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13642537.2015.1095777
Publication dates
Print13 Nov 2015
Publication process dates
Deposited22 Jan 2016
Accepted14 Sep 2015
Copyright informationThis is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counsellingon 13.11.15, available online: http://wwww.tandfonline.com/10.1080/13642537.2015.1095777.
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