The History of Psychotherapy - How it All Began

 

For as long as people have been able to speak, psychotherapy has existed. All through history, it's been known as the 'talking cure.' Since the beginning, though, as I'm sure you can imagine, its path's been tortuous, often filled with notions and theories that didn't just border on the insane. They were stark, raving mad!

These days, though, it seems to have found some sense.

Psychotherapy. The Beginnings

Many of the self-styled scholars of today consider that psychotherapy has its home purely in the West, and in the hands of those who's knowledge of the subject is inversely proportional to the vast amounts of money they charge. online marriage counseling

In fact, Western scholars of the Orient have found that Sufi literature in particular is crammed with evidence of very erudite and sophisticated procedures regarding psychotherapy.

Sufis such as Jalaludin Rumi of Afghanistan and El Ghazali of Persia show that their knowledge of the subject was such that it's only been recently matched in the West. Psychotherapy

Not only Sufis and Persians, but ancient Greeks and Egyptians in writings and treatises going back over 3,500 years discuss 'healing through words,' and indeed Chaucer mentions 'word counselling' in 1386 in the tale of the 'Wife of Bath.' marriage counseling near me

While we're on the subject of counselling, this word and psychotherapy are often used today as though they both have totally different meanings. Both words, though, simply mean that by psychological methods, you help someone. Simple as that.

Probably with the exceptions of religion and politics, no other profession has so many words that totally confuse the central issue.

Metaphors for the Mind

Not only does the profession have many confusing words, it isn't short on metaphors, either. Depending on the current technological advance, so the metaphors come along to align themselves to that particular science. marriage counseling

Hydraulics, Sir!

During the 19th. century, hydraulics made their appearance in earnest. Mind metaphors weren't slow in allying themselves to this new science. People used to talk, and in fact we still do, of 'running out of steam,' or 'letting off steam.' the marriage counselor

A lot of experimental therapy during the 1970's, especially in California, relied on the hydraulic metaphor. They believed that for a person to truly 'grow,' he or she had to 'let it all out.' Emotions, too, were 'pent-up.' diversity training

It was believed then that extreme anger had to be 'let out,' although in recent studies, it's been found that holding your anger is less damaging to your arteries than releasing it.

'Blowing off steam,' as our Victorian counterparts would have said!