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Clinical Social Work Journal, Vol. 31, No. 2, Summer 2003 ( 2003)
MAKING SENSE TOGETHER: THE INTERSUBJECTIVE APPROACH TO PSYCHOTHERAPY. Haglund, Pamela and Buirski, Peter. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 2001, 239 pp.
Among the challenges of becoming a therapist is to acquire an understanding of dynamic theories and their application to clinical situations. Haglund & Buirski (2001) have accomplished this dual purpose in their well-written book Making Sense Together. Clearly and consistently these authors locate patients, therapists, and supervisors in the framework of an intersubjective perspective, particularly that of Stolorow, Atwood, Brandschaft and Orange. The authors provide their readers with a comprehensive overview of core concepts of intersubjective theory, ways to understand them in relation to traditional psychoanalytic concepts, and ways to apply them in clinical practice. Although the books emphasis is on inter-subjectivity, most social workers will find the authors themes consistent with those from social work practice such as symbolic interactionist theory and the more recent elaborations on meaning-making and constructivist theory.
Although I have noted the value of this book for both new and experienced practitioners who are interested in learning more about this theoretical perspective, it is also well suited to anyone providing clinical supervision. Here Haglund and Buirski provide some ideas and insights into the triadic nature of most clinical practice and the ways that supervisors become part of the field of the therapeutic process. Thinking intersubjectively means approaching supervision as a participant as well as an educator.
The intersubjective perspective, as discussed by Haglund and Buirski, provides us with ways to think about our participation in any number of clinical situations. As psychoanalytic thought has expanded to a greater emphasis on a two person psychology, practitioners have questioned such traditional concepts as neutrality, not taking sides in the patients conflict, or anonymity, keeping from the patient information about our lives or perceptions. A two-person perspective allows therapists greater freedom by acknowledging that maintaining objectivity and distance is impossible. Understanding that we are subjective observers who influence and are influenced by the therapeutic process means that we also need to recognize and think about the way that our participation and subjectivity may influence the therapeutic action (Siebold, 2000). How do we as therapists convey our authenticity and simultaneously create a...