Intersubjectivity in Psychotherapy

The set of relational methods outlined by Integrative Psychotherapy provides a comprehensive guide for intersubjective treatment. Research in child development has stressed the importance of intersubjectivity for the establishment of healthy reciprocal relationships. Several models of psychotherapy have adopted an intersubjective approach to address relational problems. The relational methods of Integrative Psychotherapy put into practice many insights emanating from research regarding the origins of intersubjectivity in child development. The related subset of methods in Integrative Psychotherapy, such as acknowledgment, validation, normalization and presence, become important components in creating an intersubjective format in treatment. Such interventions contribute to building an intersubjective format in individual and group psychotherapy and may prove useful in helping people with early relational failures and the subsequent disruptions to the development of healthy intersubjective aspects of relationships.