Popularizing American psychotherapy: The Emmanuel Movement, 1906–1910.

Abstract

As late as 1907 Americans knew little of psychotherapy. The word itself was virtually nowhere to be found in either professional or popular literature. Talking cures were not talked about. Despite growing medical and cultural awareness of mental suffering, few physicians made any effort to treat such states by appealing to mind. Indeed, for more than 3 decades, American physicians--particularly those who specialized in the treatment of nervous and mental disorders--had scoffed at anything even remotely resembling mental therapeutics. By 1910 this situation changed dramatically. Whereas decades of vigorous internal professional debates had failed to generate a consensus among American physicians and academic psychologists regarding the scientific legitimacy and clinical efficacy of mental therapeuitcs, in 2 short years the Emmanuel Church Healing Movement had forced both physicians and psychologists to confront squarely and publicly a subject that they had long avoided. Lasting from 1906 to 1910, this popular mevement was the primary agent responsibile for the efflorescence of psychotherapy in the United States.

Sacred Psychotherapy in the “Age of Authenticity”: Healing and Cultural Revivalism in Contemporary Finland

“…This historical moment is of interest to us here because it involved an unprecedented collaboration between American psychotherapists and churches. Caplan [33] has shown us that psychotherapy's popularization in the U.S. can be traced, largely, to the -Emmanuel Movement.‖ Originating in Boston's Emmanuel [Episcopal] Church, the movement entailed an -unprecedented medical-pastoral venture.‖ -The psychotherapy movement's appeal transcended denominational boundaries: Baptists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Unitarians, and Universalists all enlisted in the cause‖ [33], p. 290). Notably this tentative merger of interests did not involve the sacralization of the self and its authentic expression.…”

Public education and media relations in psychology.

“…Leaving a successful independent practice, she became a nationally syndicated talk show host who was estimated to have a radio audience of between 3 and 5 million listeners a day (Friedland & Koenig, 1997). Browne was also a popular "pop psychology" author who wrote numerous books including Nobody's Perfect: Advice for Blamefree Living (1988), Why They Do not Call When They Say They Will-And Other Mixed Signals (1989), The Nine Fantasies That Will Ruin Your Life (And the Eight Realities That Will Save You;1998), It's a Jungle Out There, Jane: Understanding the Male Animal (1999), Getting Unstuck: Eight Simple Steps to Solving Any Problem (2002, and Dating for Dummies (2011). As with other early radio talk show hosts, Browne was criticized for dealing with complex psychological issues in a superficial manner; however, by 1996 she was being praised in the APA Monitor on Psychology as the nation's "best female radio host" (Monitor on Psychology, 1996).…”

L’héritage de l’école de Boston

“…L'intérêt pour ce qui « fait science » à cette époque [3] s'accompagnait d'une tentative de mise sous silence de ce qui était alors considéré comme pseudoscientifique : l'étude de phénomènes mystiques (possessions démoniaques, apparitions, transes, extases, guérisons miraculeuses, médium, magnétisme animal, etc.). N'étant pas reconnus dans le système d'autorité scientifique en vigueur, ces phénomènes étaient soit déniés, soit, grâce à l'école de Boston, éclairés sous un jour nouveau, les rendant plus à même d'être acceptés par le système et ainsi d'être reconnus comme existants.…”

“…La thérapie était menée à l'hôpital général du Massachusetts par des membres de l'école de Boston (Putnam, Cabot et Pratt) associés à des pasteurs. Le mouvement rencontre un succès immédiat et renforce la vague d'engouement pour les psychothérapies (ouvrant d'ailleurs à la psychanalyse une brèche dans laquelle elle ne tardera pas à s'engouffrer) [3]. Parmi les apports institutionnels thérapeu-tiques de l'école de Boston, on compte l'implantation au sein de l'hôpital général du Massachusetts d'un établissement pour malades mentaux et d'un service social avec des mental nurses dont le rôle était de s'informer sur l'histoire personnelle et la situation du malade (naissance du social work à l'américaine et de la talking cure).…”