The contribution of Harold F. Searles to an emerging therapeutic relationship with a chronic schizophrenic man

Abstract

The article describes the personal experience of the author, the development of a nontherapeutic relationship with a deeply regressed man, inspired and developed side by side with the study and the knowledge of the writings of Harold F. Searles. At the beginning of this experience, the author had just begun his university education in psychology. He found inspiration and self-confidence reading articles Searles wrote during his time at Chestnut Lodge. The experience of the author, developed out of theoretical models and knowledge, demonstrates that it is possible to engage psychotic people without formal psychotherapeutic training, accepting and sharing the idiosyncratic behavior of the other in a spontaneous and quiet way, using intuition and empathy.