Differentiating authentic versus pseudo vulnerability in therapeutic practice1
The importance of empathy and attuned care as key ingredients in therapeutic healing has been widely recognized. However, empathy that is delivered in ways that are misaligned with the client’s clinical presentation and emotional states or ‘modes’ can have the opposite effect, reinforcing unhelpful...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1200981/full |
| _version_ | 1797645320513912832 |
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| author | Susan G. Simpson Susan G. Simpson Limor Navot Limor Navot |
| author_facet | Susan G. Simpson Susan G. Simpson Limor Navot Limor Navot |
| author_sort | Susan G. Simpson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The importance of empathy and attuned care as key ingredients in therapeutic healing has been widely recognized. However, empathy that is delivered in ways that are misaligned with the client’s clinical presentation and emotional states or ‘modes’ can have the opposite effect, reinforcing unhelpful coping patterns, and hindering recovery. In this theoretical development paper, it is proposed that ‘pseudo vulnerability’ is an important yet overlooked source of therapeutic impasses, often resulting in unremitting clinical problems, and poor clinical outcomes. A range of commonly occurring pseudo vulnerable presentations are described, including Complaining Protector, Attention/Recognition Seeking, and Self-Pity/Victim, with the addition of a new mode Helpless Surrenderer. Guidance on differentiating pseudo vulnerable modes from each other and from the authentic Vulnerable Child mode are delineated via characteristic clinical presentations and typical therapist countertransference reactions. Methods for managing pseudo vulnerability to facilitate access to underlying authentic vulnerability are described. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T14:45:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bf799284fd234214ade0162c90974f73 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T14:45:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-bf799284fd234214ade0162c90974f732023-10-30T12:05:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402023-10-011410.3389/fpsyt.2023.12009811200981Differentiating authentic versus pseudo vulnerability in therapeutic practice1Susan G. Simpson0Susan G. Simpson1Limor Navot2Limor Navot3UniSA Justice & Society, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaNHS Forth Valley, Larbert, United KingdomSafePath Institute, Epen, NetherlandsU-center, In-Patient Clinic, Epen, NetherlandsThe importance of empathy and attuned care as key ingredients in therapeutic healing has been widely recognized. However, empathy that is delivered in ways that are misaligned with the client’s clinical presentation and emotional states or ‘modes’ can have the opposite effect, reinforcing unhelpful coping patterns, and hindering recovery. In this theoretical development paper, it is proposed that ‘pseudo vulnerability’ is an important yet overlooked source of therapeutic impasses, often resulting in unremitting clinical problems, and poor clinical outcomes. A range of commonly occurring pseudo vulnerable presentations are described, including Complaining Protector, Attention/Recognition Seeking, and Self-Pity/Victim, with the addition of a new mode Helpless Surrenderer. Guidance on differentiating pseudo vulnerable modes from each other and from the authentic Vulnerable Child mode are delineated via characteristic clinical presentations and typical therapist countertransference reactions. Methods for managing pseudo vulnerability to facilitate access to underlying authentic vulnerability are described.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1200981/fullSchema Therapyauthenticityschema modespseudo vulnerabilityHelpless Surrenderer modeComplaining Protector mode |
| spellingShingle | Susan G. Simpson Susan G. Simpson Limor Navot Limor Navot Differentiating authentic versus pseudo vulnerability in therapeutic practice1 Frontiers in Psychiatry Schema Therapy authenticity schema modes pseudo vulnerability Helpless Surrenderer mode Complaining Protector mode |
| title | Differentiating authentic versus pseudo vulnerability in therapeutic practice1 |
| title_full | Differentiating authentic versus pseudo vulnerability in therapeutic practice1 |
| title_fullStr | Differentiating authentic versus pseudo vulnerability in therapeutic practice1 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differentiating authentic versus pseudo vulnerability in therapeutic practice1 |
| title_short | Differentiating authentic versus pseudo vulnerability in therapeutic practice1 |
| title_sort | differentiating authentic versus pseudo vulnerability in therapeutic practice1 |
| topic | Schema Therapy authenticity schema modes pseudo vulnerability Helpless Surrenderer mode Complaining Protector mode |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1200981/full |
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