The visible and the invisible: reflections on secrecy, dehiscence and the gaze of the other in the therapeutic encounter
The visible and the invisible: reflections on secrecy, dehiscence and the gaze of the other in the therapeutic encounter
Psychotherapy is broadly concerned with secrets. Often our clients bring us things which they have never told anyone, subjects they have felt unable to broach. What happens in the relationship when a secret is uncovered? In this article, I discuss how one's secrets finally being uncovered can invoke shame. However, the shame of being seen in a new way can also create an opening that allows for a deeper intersubjective experience to unfold. Using Sartre's concept of the gaze of the other alongside Merleau-Ponty's ideas of dehiscence, visibility/invisibility and intertwining, I explore the meaning of secrecy, guilt and shame for both therapist and client within the therapeutic relationship.
Merleau-Ponty, Sartre, existential philosophy, existential psychotherapy, psychotherapy, MERLEAU-PONTY, INTERSUBJECTIVITY, EXISTENTIAL THERAPY, SARTRE, TRAUMA THERAPY
570-581
De Courcier, Scarlett
5aaea41e-be96-4a0c-ae82-6d35b27422dd
9 October 2024
De Courcier, Scarlett
5aaea41e-be96-4a0c-ae82-6d35b27422dd
De Courcier, Scarlett
(2024)
The visible and the invisible: reflections on secrecy, dehiscence and the gaze of the other in the therapeutic encounter.
British Journal of Psychotherapy, 40 (4), .
(doi:10.1111/bjp.12918).
Abstract
Psychotherapy is broadly concerned with secrets. Often our clients bring us things which they have never told anyone, subjects they have felt unable to broach. What happens in the relationship when a secret is uncovered? In this article, I discuss how one's secrets finally being uncovered can invoke shame. However, the shame of being seen in a new way can also create an opening that allows for a deeper intersubjective experience to unfold. Using Sartre's concept of the gaze of the other alongside Merleau-Ponty's ideas of dehiscence, visibility/invisibility and intertwining, I explore the meaning of secrecy, guilt and shame for both therapist and client within the therapeutic relationship.
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Brit J Psychotherapy - 2024 - Courcier - The Visible and the Invisible Reflections on Secrecy Dehiscence and the Gaze of
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e-pub ahead of print date: 1 August 2024
Published date: 9 October 2024
Keywords:
Merleau-Ponty, Sartre, existential philosophy, existential psychotherapy, psychotherapy, MERLEAU-PONTY, INTERSUBJECTIVITY, EXISTENTIAL THERAPY, SARTRE, TRAUMA THERAPY
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Local EPrints ID: 495624
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/495624
ISSN: 0265-9883
PURE UUID: 29663e26-ff35-4a37-bb59-8ab3966e61a3
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Date deposited: 19 Nov 2024 17:47
Last modified: 23 Nov 2024 03:09
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Author:
Scarlett De Courcier
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