Psychotherapy as Ethics

Talk of matters ethical is, in the psychotherapeutic context, typically relegated to therapy’s preconditions and setting, i.e., its ‘frame’. What goes on within that frame, therapeutic action itself, gets theorised psychological rather than terms. An explanation for this is frequent imperative extirpate self-directed moralising. Moralising, however, constitutes but a phoney pretender life. A true sensibility instead shows itself such moments life as involve our offering humane recognition one another ourselves. Being offered not only allows patient internalise it remoralising dignity or healthy pride. It also enables know herself by animating range virtue concepts—courage, probity, repentance, etc.—which can then function regulative ideals well-functioning psyche. Inchoate anxiety now takes shape intelligible guilt. Repentance repair damaged relationships replace blame’s repression projection. Conscience becomes motor change. In ways, concern merely frame living flesh project.