TY - JOUR
T1 - Moral responsiveness and discontinuity in therapy
T2 - A qualitative study
AU - Whiting, Jason B.
AU - Nebeker, R. Scott
AU - Fife, Stephen T.
PY - 2005/10
Y1 - 2005/10
N2 - Phenomenological qualitative methods were used to identify and describe moral elements in therapeutic relationships. Using the relational philosophy of E. Levinas (1961/1969, 1979/1987) as a base, data in which therapists and clients identified and described morally responsive experiences in therapy sessions were analyzed. These moments were often unexpected and included categories of surprise, interruption, willingness to change, and clarifications/repairs. Additional moral phenomena related to therapists’ attitudes included asymmetrical indebtedness, attitude of serving, and tentativeness of diagnosis. Identified moments of moral responsiveness were frequently associated with clients’ progress in therapy. This suggests that conceptually smooth and uninterrupted therapy may be less helpful than therapy that is discontinuous and able to change in the moment.
AB - Phenomenological qualitative methods were used to identify and describe moral elements in therapeutic relationships. Using the relational philosophy of E. Levinas (1961/1969, 1979/1987) as a base, data in which therapists and clients identified and described morally responsive experiences in therapy sessions were analyzed. These moments were often unexpected and included categories of surprise, interruption, willingness to change, and clarifications/repairs. Additional moral phenomena related to therapists’ attitudes included asymmetrical indebtedness, attitude of serving, and tentativeness of diagnosis. Identified moments of moral responsiveness were frequently associated with clients’ progress in therapy. This suggests that conceptually smooth and uninterrupted therapy may be less helpful than therapy that is discontinuous and able to change in the moment.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85039737726&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/j.2161-007X.2005.tb00038.x
DO - 10.1002/j.2161-007X.2005.tb00038.x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85039737726
VL - 50
SP - 20
EP - 37
JO - Counseling and Values
JF - Counseling and Values
SN - 0160-7960
IS - 1
ER -