Therapeutic Ethics in Context and in Dialogue

The standard view of psychotherapy as a treatment for mental disorders can obscure its role as a social practice that promotes human well-being. Smith examines the link between therapy and ethics, and the roots of therapeutic aims in modern Western ideas about living well. He explores how therapeutic aims implicitly promote ideas about a good life, even though therapists rarely tell their patients how to live. This volume builds on a complementary volume to explore therapeutic conceptions of human flourishing. It utilizes Charles Taylor's history of the modern identity to examine the historical and cultural origins of therapeutic ethics and considers the prospects for dialogue between different psychotherapies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 01 February 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The conventional perception of psychotherapy as a solely therapeutic intervention for mental disorders can overshadow its role as a social practice that fosters notions of human well-being. In his insightful work, Smith delves into the intricate relationship between therapy and ethics, drawing upon the philosophical insights of Charles Taylor. By examining the roots of therapeutic aims in modern Western ideas about living well, Smith offers a comprehensive exploration of the field. This volume serves as a sequel to a complementary volume titled "The Ethical Visions of Psychotherapy," further advancing our understanding of therapeutic conceptions of human flourishing.

Smith adeptly demonstrates how therapeutic aims, albeit often implicit, implicitly promote ideals of a fulfilling life. He highlights how therapists, despite their reluctance to explicitly prescribe lifestyles to their patients, inadvertently convey these values through their therapeutic interventions. Taylor's historical account of the modern identity provides a valuable framework for examining the historical and cultural origins of therapeutic ethics. Smith employs Taylor's insights into practical reasoning and ethical debate to consider the possibilities for dialogue and reconciliation among the diverse ethical visions advocated by different psychotherapies.

This text is of utmost importance to upper-level undergraduates, postgraduate students, and professionals engaged in the fields of psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, theoretical psychology, and philosophy of mind. It offers a profound and thought-provoking exploration of the complex interplay between therapy, ethics, and human flourishing, providing valuable insights for those seeking to advance their understanding of the field.

Weight: 144g
Dimension: 138 x 277 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367524975