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Deriving from the new methodological approach of formal indication is the general principle that guides what we refer to as phenomenological psychotherapy. It consists in an interpretative understanding faithfully focusing on the actual occurrence of living experience, as this manifests itself to the individual, with no theoretical mediation. Then, this chapter focuses on the definition of the margins, themes, and disclosures offered by phenomenological psychotherapy while developing a radical critique of theoretically founded psychotherapies. The close engagement with the hot topics in psychotherapy research—the therapeutic relationship, intimacy, alliance, the individual differences, the effectiveness of therapeutic discourse, the common factors, empathy, and compassion—and with the answers that theoretical forms of psychotherapy have to offer with regard to these topics enables us to deconstruct the reflexive approach to therapeutic care.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-78087-0_7

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