JOURNAL ARTICLE

Interrogating the concept of the 'wounded healer': A deconstruction.

  • Published In: Counselling Psychology Review, 2024, v. 39, n. 1. P. 126 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Johnstone, Robin 3 of 3

Abstract

This article examines the wounded healer ethos—originating from the Greek myth of Chiron and developed by Carl Jung as an archetype—and its complex relevance to contemporary therapy practice. It explores diverse perspectives on therapists' roles, ranging from healers to helpers, and critiques that psychology can also enact harm through medicalizing discourses and systemic inequalities. The discussion includes psychoanalytic views that challenge the notion of therapy as curing wounds, instead emphasizing self-awareness and integration without aiming for conformity to societal norms. Ultimately, the author adopts a nuanced stance, embracing the wounded healer paradigm as one of multiple, sometimes paradoxical, identities that therapists embody in their professional and social roles.

Additional Information

  • Source:Counselling Psychology Review. 2024/07, Vol. 39, Issue 1, p126
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:1757-2142
  • DOI:10.53841/bpscpr.2024.39.1.126
  • Accession Number:178006784
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Counselling Psychology Review is the property of British Psychological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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