IC01 Keynote 04 - The Therapist as Humanist, Social Activist and Systemic Thinker - Cloe Madanes, PhD

Description:

From Freud to Erickson to the current practice of psychotherapy, the nature of human problems has remained the same. What has changed is which problems we consider are within the realm of psychotherap-y to elucidate. When Erickson introduced the concept of directive therapy, the field changed, not only in terms of how to do therapy, but also in terms of what are the issues a therapist must address. Is there a place for the concept of evil, for the practice of justice, and for the spiritual realm in therapy? What do we know today that we didn't know a hundred years ago? How can we preserve the existence of the therapist as humanist, social activist and systemic thinker?

Educational Objectives:

1. Given a patient, outline a humanistic treatment plan.
2. To list three methods for working with social violence.

*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*

Outline:

Introduction and Background

• Cloe Madanes introduced as a pioneering, socially conscious, and creative strategic family therapist.

• She opens by sharing her anxiety about discussing her failures in therapy.

Career Journey and Influences

• Interest in psychology began at age 14.

• Trained at the Mental Research Institute and Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic.

• Worked with Jay Haley at the Family Therapy Institute of Washington, D.C.

• Focused on preventing child and adolescent hospitalization and using humor in therapy.

Shift to Violence and Money Issues

• Later focused on violence and sexual abuse, publishing Sex, Love and Violence and The Violence of Men.

• Authored The Secret Meaning of Money, examining money’s role in family problems and solutions.

• Stressed the importance of justice and fairness in therapy.

Critique of the Mental Health Field

• Criticized pharmaceutical industry influence and managed care for harming therapy quality.

• Warned of burnout and corruption in the mental health profession.

• Highlighted failures in institutional care for children.

Institutional Failures and Case Examples

• Shared cases of children harmed by neglectful systems in residential care.

• Stressed need for family involvement and restoring children to their families.

• Urged reform in how institutions support and engage with families.

Values in Therapy

• Advocated for clarity in therapists’ personal and professional values.

• Encouraged therapists to question limiting beliefs and align work with their ideals.

• Emphasized cultivating positive emotions in the therapeutic process.

Language, Questions, and Metaphors

• Highlighted power of empowering questions and rich vocabulary in therapy.

• Discussed the role of metaphors in shaping clients’ narratives and how changing them can transform lives.

• Urged therapists to understand the symbolic forces shaping clients' identities and relationships.

Therapy as Social Activism

• Positioned therapy as a tool to combat persecution, discrimination, and violence.

• Called on therapists to meet with perpetrators and understand root causes of violence.

• Advocated for therapist engagement in social justice and human rights.

Vision for the Future of Therapy

• Emphasized defending the field from commercial and bureaucratic pressures.

• Reinforced humanistic values and the importance of maintaining trust in family systems.

• Promoted alternative support networks and therapists’ role as ethical, committed changemakers.

Final Reflections

• Honored Milton Erickson’s legacy of respecting individual uniqueness and creativity.

• Advocated for directive therapy rooted in ethics and high ideals.

• Urged therapists to live by their values and contribute meaningfully to society.