The wounded-healer in psychotherapy

Shizuka  Torii

doi:10.9791/ajpanz.2005.11

Shizuka Torii

DOI: https://doi.org/10.9791/ajpanz.2005.11

Abstract

This paper argues that the therapist's woundedness can be useful and indeed has wonderful potential for therapeutic effectiveness on condition that the therapist has integrated his/her woundedness. It discusses the ethos, the paradigm and the beauty of the wounded-healer by reviewing relevant literature, followed by clinical vignettes from the author's very beginning practice to illustrate some aspects of wounded-healing.

Author Biography

Shizuka Torii

As recoded in 2005.

Shizuka Torii is a training psychotherapist presently completing a Masters of Health Science at Auckland University of Technology. She is Japanese and has been a New Zealand resident since 1991. Her career history includes work as a stewardess, which pleased Aphrodite but displeased Athena in her, and as an academic (holding a doctorate in linguistics from Victoria University of Wellington), which satisfied Athena but neglected Aphrodite in her. She is delighted to have finally found a vocation that she believes could fulfil both Athena and Aphrodite in her.