The Ethical Visions of Psychotherapy (Advances in Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology)

The standard view of psychotherapy as a treatment for mental disorders can obscure how therapy functions as a social practice that promotes conceptions of human well-being. Building on the philosophy of Charles Taylor, Smith examines the link between therapy and ethics, and the roots of therapeutic aims in modern Western ideas about living well. This is one of two complementary volumes (the other being __Therapeutic Ethics in Context and in Dialogue__). This volume explores the links between therapeutic aims and conceptions of well-being. It examines several cognitive-behavioral and psychoanalytic therapies to illustrate how they can be distinguished by their divergent ethics. Smith argues that because research utilizing standard measures of efficacy shows little difference between the therapies, the assessment of their relative merits must include evaluation of their distinct ethical visions. A key text for upper level undergraduates, postgraduate students, and professionals in the fields of psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, theoretical psychology, and philosophy of mind. "The standard view of psychotherapy as a treatment for mental disorders can obscure how therapy functions as a social practice that promotes conceptions of human well-being. Building on the philosophy of Charles Taylor, Smith examines the link between therapy and ethics, and the roots of therapeutic aims in modern Western ideas about living well. This is one of two complementary volumes (the other being Therapeutic Ethics in Context and in Dialogue). This volume explores the links between therapeutic aims and conceptions of well-being. It examines several cognitive behavioral and psychoanalytic therapies to illustrate how they can be distinguished by their divergent ethics. Smith argues that because research utilizing standard measures of efficacy shows little difference between the therapies, the assessment of their relative merits must include evaluation of their distinct ethical visions. A key text for upper level undergraduates, postgraduate students, and professionals in the fields of psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, theoretical psychology, and philosophy of mind"-- Provided by publisher Cover Endorsement Page Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Acknowledgments Series Foreword Chapter 1 Introduction: The Means and Ends of Therapy Chapter 2 The Ethics of Therapeutic Aims Prologue: A Tale of Two Therapies Therapy Wars Clarifying Terminology: “Ethics” Why Ethics? Notes Chapter 3 Therapeutic Ethics in “Technical” Therapies Introduction: The Interweaving of the Psychological and the Ethical Ethics in Technical Therapies Conclusion Note Chapter 4 Different Therapies, Different Ethics: The Example of Psychoanalysis Paul Gray’s Ego-Psychology Bruce Fink’s Lacanian Analysis Stephen Mitchell’s Relational Analysis Divergent Psychoanalytic Aims Note Chapter 5 Psychotherapy Research: From Effective Techniques to Ethical Aspirations Research on Differential Therapeutic Efficacy Two Readings of the Research: Atomistic and Holistic Summary Which Therapy? A Dilemma for the Social-Holistic Approach Notes Chapter 6 Conclusion: What Works? What Matters? Note References Index