I sometimes describe psychotherapy this way, “Talk-therapy can be focused on adaptation to daily life or transforming patterns of living that developed from past experience.” Let’s look at the effects of injury and healing in order to understand personal change, adaptive and transformative.

We know from in-person experience that feelings, whether they be identified as bodily sensations and/or as emotions, are fundamental to each person’s evaluation of any social interaction. Talk-therapy is a social interaction, albeit a special kind... The psychosocial distance of Telehealth, I had thought prior to listening to clinicians, was something that would diminish therapeutic efficacy. Now, I think that “distance” might be a reason to (sometimes) recommend Telehealth.

There is a quality of emotional experience which is essential to transformative psychotherapy. Think of a time when you cried and the person with you was supportive and safe. Afterward, you felt better; you might have better been able to talk about it, gaining a new perspective. The term that I use is “emotion response cycle” and the cognition that heals is in the post-wave repose.

There is an adage, “It’s sometimes hard to see the forest from the trees.” I felt this when I started to conduct psychotherapy and supervision via Telehealth. The pandemic forced the issue to the forefront for many clinicians. The perceptions of early adopters and late-comers (like myself) could help all of us gain perspective and insight. So I began to listen to what other psychotherapists had to say.

Goals of talk-therapy are often pragmatic; at times the intention is transformational. I have seen this as I sat in the client’s and clinician’s chair. Here are some things that I learned while a client which inform my theory.

This blog is based upon my dissertation which I completed when COVID-19 was ravaging societies worldwide. When I was done and ready to publish, I needed to say “Thank you.” Everyday I wake up with boundless gratitude and that coexists with my sadness for those who suffer from dehumanizing injustices.

The first set of articles is derived from my book, “Transformative Psychotherapy and Telehealth” and the posts often use words precisely and there is jargon that I avoid when I write for the general public. This glossary covers most of the special concepts. Please don’t hesitate to suggest updates. Thank you.

Posts often have citations. This reference page is all that you need to follow-up on a citation.

Transformative Psychotherapy and Telehealth: Original Dissertation

Copyright 2021 Victor D. Bloomberg

This is a reproduction of my dissertation, presented to the Graduate Review Board of the Western Institute for Social Research and approved for the doctoral degree in “Higher Education and Social Change” conferred on September 30, 2021. This eBook is free and it is provided for educational purposes only.