Significance and importance of the psychotherapist's personality and experience

Abstract

The psychotherapist's personality demands an open dynamic organization of the psychophysical systems that determine characteristic behavior and thought. A therapist must think and act coherently with his social ideals. Freedom, creativity and affection shall help to achieve a true 'therapeutic disposition' where knowledge and empathy are paramount and constantly available. A real experience develops from authentic self-correcting practice. 'Countertransferential narcissism' must be studied in order to free the therapist from internal conflictive compromises. Thus, epistemophilic feelings--basic for psychotherapy--can increasingly be developed within a therapist's personality.