Therapy and Otherness: Philosophical Reflections about The Psychotherapeutic Practice

Abstract

We present some reflections on the engagements of the therapist in the social situations involved in the specific setting of Groups of Intervention over the States of Consciousness (GISC). In the development of GISC, a kind of culture is created that will act as a therapeutic tool, and to which the therapist must be careful that it does not become a rooted culture that leads its members to perform as the way they are supposed to be. The most important thing is that the group culture should maintain an openness to the possibility of exploring dissociated places, both on a personal and social level. Consequently, such a therapist is committed to a specific way of understanding social relations from the perspective of diversity, supported by a collaborative behavior and receptiveness to the freedom of oneself and those around. This commitment can be interpreted as a basic ideological position that will allow the proper development of groups. However, we wonder if it would be possible to interpret it as an ethical position as well. To do this, we rely on Emmanuel Levinas' approach to 'the Other', and develop its implications, benefits, and risks within the group therapy process.