A CRITERION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH

Abstract

During a recent panel discussion' Lundin made the point that while all therapies claim some success, criteria of success vary in such a way as to make these claims both questionable and incomparable. We had witnessed the demonstration of a variety of techniques invented or modified by some very competent group therapists whose vitality was evident in their work. I suggested that the health of the therapist is transmitted to the client, and that this may account, in part, for the "some success? of all therapies. By the health of the therapist, I meant his aliveness, his alertness, his openness and freshness in using whatever techniques he has chosen to represent his originality and sensitivity. I would like to develop the meaning of this therapeutic behavior in such a way as to set a criterion of psychological health applicable to any person or form of therapy.