Empathy and Otherness: Humanistic and Phenomenological Approaches to Psychotherapy of Severe Mental Illness

Authors

  • Elizabeth Pienkos
  • Louis A. Sass

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14713/pcsp.v8i1.1119

Keywords:

humanism, schizophrenia, phenomenology, empathy, radical otherness, case studies, clinical case studies

Abstract

In this commentary, we respond to Atwood’s (2012) article, "Psychotherapy as a Human Science: Clinical Case Studies Exploring the Abyss of Madness," by highlighting some of the theoretical ideals that guide Atwood’s writing and his therapy work.  In particular, we consider how these case studies fit into the larger paradigm of humanistic psychology, and how this perspective informed Atwood’s work with his clients, providing him with the understanding and empathy that facilitated the therapeutic healing he describes.  We also consider the different, but complementary, idea in phenomenological psychiatry of "radical otherness," which suggests the fundamental impossibility of complete empathy, and how this can be therapeutic, particularly when treating cases of schizophrenia.  Finally, we discuss the contributions of phenomenology to the understanding of schizophrenia, and its implications for treatment.


Author Biographies

Elizabeth Pienkos

Louis A. Sass

LouisSass@aol.com

Downloads

Published

02/18/2012

How to Cite

Pienkos, E., & Sass, L. A. (2012). Empathy and Otherness: Humanistic and Phenomenological Approaches to Psychotherapy of Severe Mental Illness. Pragmatic Case Studies in Psychotherapy, 8(1), 25–35. https://doi.org/10.14713/pcsp.v8i1.1119