This article emphasizes the nature and necessity of risk in the therapeutic relationship, which are often not well accounted for in ethics codes. The author proposes that enactments that might be viewed by some as unethical are actually common in a therapeutic dyad and can be considered an essential part of the therapeutic process. She further suggests that ethical practice involves “minding the gap” between intention and outcome, which requires ongoing attention to cotransferential interactions.
Cet article revient sur la nature et la nécessité du risque, éléments souvent négligés dans les codes éthiques. Selon l’auteur, certaines mises en acte, parfois jugées contraires à l’éthique, sont en réalité répandues dans les dyades thérapeutiques et peuvent être considérées comme un facteur essentiel du processus thérapeutique. Par ailleurs, l’auteur soutient qu’une pratique éthique implique de « faire attention à la marche » qui sépare l’intention des conséquences, ce qui requiert une attention constante aux interactions co-transférentielles.
The authors explore Eric Berne's game theory and how they, as psychotherapists from two European countries, use the theory today in their work. Their exchange around the similarities and differences in their approaches demonstrates two versions of a contemporary transactional analysis in which Berne's original thinking is developed and informed by further writings from both inside and outside of transactional analysis.In December 2013, following a workshop in Rome, the two of us began a dialogue regarding our understandings of how we work as transactional analysis psychotherapists. What was immediately clear was that we both understand the importance of the therapist's subjectivity, and we both draw on game theory, although to differing extents, to map and bring meaning to our work. As we discussed our theoretical underpinnings, what emerged was that Pierini's understanding of games focuses on affect regulation, whereas Eusden's focuses on affect dysregulation. We realized that we have some fundamental differences in how we understand our work, even though we recognize that our principles of practice are not so far apart.
Berne's Contribution: Appreciation and CritiqueBerne's move into game theory was a bold step in linking the intrapsychic and interpersonal. He drew on his observations of children at play, and in writing Games People Play (Berne, 1964), he clearly spoke to a collective need to understand dynamics between as well as inside of people. As a surprise bestseller, the book tapped into the cultural zeitgeist of the time, and it continues today to excite people across the spectrum of psychological learning.Berne's theory of games emerged over time. In 1964 he wrote about and named many games, which was both helpful and reductionistic. Many of the games he described then would now be
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