A Therapist's Fallibility and the Hermeneutics of Trust

Date of Award

4-21-2017

Document Type

Undergraduate Capstone Project

Degree Name

Psy.D.

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Peter Buirski

Second Advisor

Judith Fox

Third Advisor

Risa Muchnick

Keywords

Fallibility, Hermeneutics of trust, Pathological structures of accommodation, Self psychology, Intersubjectivity

Abstract

Using case material from a three-year psychotherapy treatment, this paper illustrates the process undergone by a beginning psychotherapist in integrating a fallibilistic sensibility into his clinical practice. The theoretical concepts of fallibility, the hermeneutics of trust, and pathological structures of accommodation are briefly reviewed to provide context and support for the development of this clinician’s dedication to fallibility. Case material then focuses on the historical development of the patient’s pathological structures of accommodation and a critical clinical moment that was transformative for the trajectory of the overall treatment. Through this critical clinical moment, the therapist’s process of becoming more consciously aware of the utility of fallibility will be illuminated. This fallibilistic sensibility is then integrated more fully into the therapist’s understanding of how this treatment changed both participants. The outcomes of the treatment will be presented, specifically related to the patient’s development of a stronger sense of self and an increased capacity to tolerate and integrate experiences of failure into his subjectivity. Ideas related to the repetitive and selfobject dimensions of the transference will also be briefly considered

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

Extent

26 pages

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