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TEMPATIONS OF POWER AND CERTAINTY
Author(s) -
Amundson Jon,
Stewart Kenneth,
Valentine LaNae
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of marital and family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.868
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1752-0606
pISSN - 0194-472X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-0606.1993.tb00971.x
Subject(s) - temptation , certainty , curiosity , power (physics) , psychology , social psychology , epistemology , philosophy , physics , quantum mechanics
In our search for guiding principles out of which to conduct therapy, we encounter two temptations: temptations of power and certainty. When therapists do not adequately account for the position of our clients, we fall prey to the temptation of certainty. When we attempt to impose corrections from such certainty, we fall victim to the temptation of power. Colonization occurs in therapy when our commitment to “expert knowledge” blinds us to the experience in the room. This paper offers suggestions for sidestepping power/certainty by constrating therapies of power and certainty with therapies of curiosity and empowernment.