The Resilient Founder

15Psychotherapy: An Imperfect History of an Impossible Profession

The difference between neurotics and normal people is a matter only of degree…

– Sigmund Freud

What is therapy, and how does it exactly work? Is it a science – predictable and measurable – or an art form – blending some proven techniques with situational context. In the Western world, psychotherapy is accepted widely while in some parts of the world, our neuroticism could be addressed with traditional rituals. Like most complexities in life, the best answer will seem unsatisfactory to the fierce intellect and barely acceptable to the aching heart. We don't fully understand how our insides work, but we can make some intelligent guesses.

SIGMUND FREUD: THE PAST CREATES THE FUTURE

The father of psychotherapy Sigmund Freud was a complex personality. He liked to smoke cigars, enjoy cocaine, and even recommended it generously as an antidepressant. A prolific writer, he authored a 24-volume magnum opus of his psychological works. Although the usage of cocaine as an antidepressant can be debated, some of his writings are considered to be foundational. He constructed a range of possibilities for what caused mental health challenges. Not much was grounded in any statistical or scientific analysis. Indeed, it is not easy to develop mathematical models of such subjective processes. All that goes on in our mind is often somewhat mysterious and cannot be measured in a laboratory as yet.

Although the laws of physics and ...