"Psychotherapy with traumatized and grieving clients: A constructivist framework for love and healing "

Abstract

According our experience love is the main active ingredient of psychotherapy, whether acknowledged by therapist and client or not. Nevertherless several questions remain: What is meant by “love” in this context? Why should love be effective in ameliorating negative effects of trauma? Why is the love from a non-therapist (e.g., family member, friend) often not sufficient to provide the needed healing? How does a psychotherapist come to love a client? How do these concepts relate to the “techniques” typically used in the treatment of posttraumatic stress and complicated bereavement?