[see: \u201cPsychotherapy vs. Psychotherapies<\/a>\u201d]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Doing good is not easy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It requires intention, perseverance, and insight. [see:\u201d\u2018Doing Good\u2019: Not as Easy as It Seems<\/a>\u201d]<\/p>\n\n\n\n With this text, I mainly want to make people think, not being complacent in business-as-usual. Within the latter mindset, several catastrophes are worsening \u2015 for instance, Climate Disaster. There\u2019s a point in always remaining critical about anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Including this text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, including psychotherapy as we know it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, psychotherapists are well-meaning people. They devote their lives trying to help. That deserves all respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This respect demands a critical attitude that may enable therapists to be optimally helpful. I hope this attitude can be fostered through an original AURELIS view. This brings a specific responsibility \u2015 no guilt. [see: \u201cAlways Responsible, Never Guilty<\/a>\u201d]<\/p>\n\n\n\n The same attitude is also necessary out of respect for psychotherapists\u2019 clients and, eventually, society at large.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s get critical<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n My main critiques are a lack of depth and a lack of rationality. This shows in placebogenic and symptomatic therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Generally, symptomatic therapy diminishes the symptom as such, with little depth. The symptom is seen as, well, just a symptom. [see: \u201cSymptomatic Therapy?<\/a>\u201d] With mental symptoms, the notion of \u2018underlying disease\u2019 also doesn\u2019t bring depth. Let\u2019s not beat around the bush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Justifying symptomatic therapy starts from the assumption that the symptoms don\u2019t have profound meaningfulness. [see: \u201cThe Meaning of Meaning<\/a>\u201d] This is very wrong in many cases. In my experience, a bit of deep coaching is sufficient to get an idea about the extent. Unfortunately, such coaching appears to be a rare phenomenon. Most instrumental methods of psychotherapy do not enhance it \u2015 quite the contrary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instrumentality doesn\u2019t go further than a placebo. [see: \u201cAbout <Placebo> In-Depth<\/a>\u201d] In other words, in order to even be able to go further, more is needed. This \u2018more\u2019 can be combined with a placebo, but it isn\u2019t part of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psychotherapy as a placebo has the side effects of any other placebo. [see: \u201cPsychotherapy and Placebo<\/a>\u201d]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Assuming deep meaningfulness,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n any mind-related symptom does not stand apart from the person. One can see it as part of the client\u2019s mental substance fabric, even though in an unhealthy form. In such a case, removing the symptom is impossible without cutting out a piece of the client \u2015 inflicting a substantial mental wound. That can hardly be called \u2018therapeutic.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n How \u2013 if ever \u2013 do clients heal from such wounds? We have little knowledge about this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, the client as a whole is at risk of being treated in a disrespectful and demeaning way \u2015 hardly empowering. The result is a more vulnerable person, contrary to the AURELIS aim of heightening Inner Strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Compassion?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Danger also lies in missing the opportunity of doing tremendous good \u2015 even if subjective. Indeed, the depth of a valley is relative to comparing it to surrounding mountains and vice versa. Only seeing one side makes one blind to the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With eyes fixed on methodologies, we are missing much in-depth, sub-conceptual research on Compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seeing symptoms as calls for growth makes one notice the lost chances if not taken advantage of. Psychotherapy, in general, is an occasion for growth. [see: \u201cWhat vs. How in Psychotherapies<\/a>\u201d] There are also other occasions. If psychotherapy works only symptomatically, it\u2019s a closed door. This prevents people from exploring further. In psycho-somatics, it prevents medical research from exploring the mind much further than the deplorable state of now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s dangerous. Positing oneself as a door is not neutral. It carries responsibility. [see: “Psychotherapy’s Closed Door<\/a>“]<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is hugely serious stuff!<\/p>\n