The Mat and the Frame: Understanding Relational Therapy Through the Lens of Judo

Date of Award

Summer 8-22-2026

Document Type

Doctoral Research Paper

Degree Name

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Lavita Nadkarni

Second Advisor

Michael Karson

Third Advisor

Sarah Lukens

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Judo, Psychodynamic therapy, Relational therapy, Intersubjectivity, Martial arts, Clinician development

Abstract

A response to the too-common adage that psychotherapy is simply "a human sitting with a human," this project seeks to provide a nuanced inroad to learning foundational principles of relational psychotherapy. The martial art of judo provides philosophical and metaphorical analogues to complex aspects of intersubjective work. Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo, outlined two principles--seiryoku zenyo (maximum efficiency with minimum effort) and jita kyoei (mutual welfare and benefit for all)--which this paper applies to the practice of relational psychotherapy. As such, this exploration addresses a notable gap in scholarship connecting judo's philosophy to psychotherapy and explicates important relational insights. Extensive use of metaphor places judo in conversation with intersubjective and object relations theories to support new clinicians in gaining an understanding of this complex work. A case study illustrates the application of these concepts within the arc of a three-year course of relational therapy, highlighting major turning points relevant to clinician development and closing with a consideration of the bidirectional and societal nature of therapeutic growth. This is a reflective project and a clinical essay, intended for clinicians who seek another perspective on what it is we are doing when we do relational therapy.

Copyright Date

6-22-2026

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

Rights Holder

Kate O'Brien

Provenance

Received from author

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

27 pgs

File Size

443 KB

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