Therapeutic Relationship in Psychoanalysis, Essay Example

Upon reading Clarkson (1996), it was explicitly stated that the study made use of a conceptual framework. By analyzing this section, it is shown that Clarkson (1996) did indeed utilize a conceptual and not a theoretical framework, based on the consideration that theoretical framework provides a lens of thinking from which the researcher may approach a study; whereas conceptual framework provides the bases for the ideas that the researcher has developed for the study. In the discussion of Clarkson (1996) under conceptual framework, it is mentioned that the framework would be “drawn from the disciplinary fields of psychoanalysis/psychotherapy, psychology and counselling–all the forms of helping through talking.” From here, Clarkson (1996) proceeded to discuss about how pertinent concepts in the study, primarily “therapeutic relationship,” and the sources of data where such a concept can be drawn from. This was the “provisional stance” that Clarkson (1996) began with, and it shows that the study did not at the onset select a set of theories from which to frame all of its observations. Rather, it defined critical concepts that the study would focus on, thereby presenting a conceptual framework.

The use of a conceptual framework is appropriate for the approach that Clarkson (1996) selected. As discussed in the methodology, the intention of the study is to develop theory inductively from the investigation of a large volume of data drawn from the experiences of the author as well as from experiences of other practitioners as shown from existing literature (Clarkson, 1996). Clarkson (1996) quoted the intention to “abandon the problem of the origin of ideas within the head, and shift concern to the emergence of language within communities,” showing that theory was utilized at the end rather than at the beginning of the study. This makes the use of a conceptual rather than theoretical framework appropriate.

Reference

Clarkson, P. (1996). Researching the `therapeutic relationship’ in psychoanalysis, counselling psychology. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 9(2): 143-163.