Person-centered approach: theory, practice and research Pre-therapy
A way to facilitate reconnection
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14940471Keywords:
pre-therapy, person-centered approach, Garry Prouty, psychosis, contact workAbstract
In Pre-Therapy as formulated by Dr. Garry Prouty (1936-2009), “contact” and “pre-expressive functioning” are key concepts. They help to define a framework in which all unusual, out-of-contact, disconnected and idiosyncratic functioning, usually labeled as, symptomatic “behavior (as in psychosis e.g.), is not only seen as meaningful, but also is taken as a starting point for empowering interaction. The phenomenological method of giving, reflections”, very concretely and empathically can bridge the world of a person functioning in this out-of-contact way, with the common reality present. Pre-Therapy can thus be seen as an invitation to reconnect with the world outside, as well as with his/her lived inner world as well as with the social world surrounding. This process implies the step from so called “pre-expressive” to “expressive” functioning, c.q. to re-establish, contact. This article gives an example of how the method can be used in dealing with somebody living on the edge of psychotic functioning, on his way to lose himself in his private, lonely and threatening world, and hereby presenting a crisis situation in residential psychiatry
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