Karma and Effect: Mere Psychotherapy, Part 7

"Alienation gives rise to the pure possibility of being, a place where one might expect to find a subject, but which nevertheless remains empty. Alienation engenders, in a sense, a place in which it is clear that there is, as of yet, no subject; a place w

"The blood that covers me nourishes the butterflies, and they are healed and are set free." ~ Lucinda Williams, Broken Butterflies

"Alienation gives rise to the pure possibility of being, a place where one might expect to find a subject, but which nevertheless remains empty.  Alienation engenders, in a sense, a place in which it is clear that there is, as of yet, no subject; a place where something is conspicuously lacking." ~ Bruce Fink, The Lacanian Subject

The title chapter of Irvin Yalom's "Love's Executioner" paints a picture of sometimes needing to tell harsh truths to our patients.  That is, confront, challenge, or even potentially damage them -- not from a position of malice or negligence, but with the compassionate intent of provoking what ails them in order to expel it (to paraphrase Yalom).  Sometimes the intervention works beautifully.  Sometimes it ends tragically.  Many times the outcome is something unexpected.

Jessica typifies the 17 year old, blunted, "whatever", punk ro…