The multistory self: why the self is more than the sum of its autoparts.
A summary is presented of both the theoretical and clinical points made by the contributors to this issue of Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session on the multiplicity of self. It is argued that there are many theoretical and clinical commonalities in the diverse range of psychotherapies that have been developed and that have been used in work with problems in the self-concept. Core problems encountered in clinical practice include an apparent self-integration that is attained through the exclusion of important parts of the self. The key to opening up clients who present such problems is through the use of experienced emotions and the therapeutic relationship. More extreme problems in the self-concept can be seen in the personality and psychotic disorders, in which the self may be chaotic or disintegrated. Such clients may need help with the development of a reflective self that can integrate and regulate the separate parts of the self-concept.
Power
M J
MJ
Section of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Medical School, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. mjpower@staffmail.ed.ac.uk
D006801:Humans; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012649:Self Concept