Comments on: Working nonpathologically does not negate pathology, it depathologizes it. http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2007/02/26/working-nonpathologically-does-not-negate-pathology-it-depathologizes-it/ <<exploring healthy therapy & counseling>> Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:43:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: isabella mori http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2007/02/26/working-nonpathologically-does-not-negate-pathology-it-depathologizes-it/#comment-4379 isabella mori Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:26:38 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=4#comment-4379 Thank you for these thoughtful words. One more thing to consider is the interpretation of the term "pathology" -logy means study of/knowledge. Pathos means feeling, passion, suffering, undergoing. In the ancient Greek, it generally carries a sense of "being done to" (usually by some God). Now, put somewhat crudely, we could take "pathology" to mean being whacked over the head once again, by yet another god, this time an academic/medical god: "You have an illness. It is called body dysmorphic disorder. I have studied this illness. Here's what you need to do." Or --- an unhappy person can sit down with someone interested in him who can mention, at some point, "You're a great guy, and you've got lots going for you. And you've told me that this confusion about how you look really troubles you. I've talked to and read about other people with similar problems, and how they've dealt with that. If you'd like me to, I'll tell you about it. But first of all, tell me what it's like for YOU and what YOU think might work." Pathos (suffering) and logia (knowledge/study) in both situations. Expressed and experienced very differently. Thank you for these thoughtful words.

One more thing to consider is the interpretation of the term “pathology”

-logy means study of/knowledge.

Pathos means feeling, passion, suffering, undergoing. In the ancient Greek, it generally carries a sense of “being done to” (usually by some God).

Now, put somewhat crudely, we could take “pathology” to mean being whacked over the head once again, by yet another god, this time an academic/medical god: “You have an illness. It is called body dysmorphic disorder. I have studied this illness. Here’s what you need to do.”

Or — an unhappy person can sit down with someone interested in him who can mention, at some point, “You’re a great guy, and you’ve got lots going for you. And you’ve told me that this confusion about how you look really troubles you. I’ve talked to and read about other people with similar problems, and how they’ve dealt with that. If you’d like me to, I’ll tell you about it. But first of all, tell me what it’s like for YOU and what YOU think might work.”

Pathos (suffering) and logia (knowledge/study) in both situations. Expressed and experienced very differently.

]]> By: Therapist Albany http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/2007/02/26/working-nonpathologically-does-not-negate-pathology-it-depathologizes-it/#comment-4 Therapist Albany Wed, 28 Feb 2007 19:27:54 +0000 http://www.goodtherapy.org/custom/blog/?p=4#comment-4 Pathology is a way of understanding and treating maladaptive behavior. It also provides therapist, counselors, psychologist etc. with some of the most effective ways to intervene with clients. However, if we spend more time in sessions educating our client's on their pathology e.g. DSM IV, maybe as a therapist we are putting the client in a pathological box that we think or feel competent to treat. When this happens it often results in treating the pathology, not the person. It is useful to understand and treat pathology we are indebted to those who have provided us with a wealth of information and understanding about human behavior. However, once the pathology is "Re" "Cognized" the client only has a better understanding of an aspect of who they are. They are not their "pathology" In the profession, we treat person with pathology we do not treat the Pathology which happens to manifest itself in a person. Pathology is a way of understanding and treating maladaptive behavior. It also provides therapist, counselors, psychologist etc. with some of the most effective ways to intervene with clients. However, if we spend more time in sessions educating our client’s on their pathology e.g. DSM IV, maybe as a therapist we are putting the client in a pathological box that we think or feel competent to treat. When this happens it often results in treating the pathology, not the person.
It is useful to understand and treat pathology we are indebted to those who have provided us with a wealth of information and understanding about human behavior. However, once the pathology is “Re” “Cognized” the client only has a better understanding of an aspect of who they are. They are not their “pathology” In the profession, we treat person with pathology we do not treat the Pathology which happens to manifest itself in a person.

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