Silence in psychotherapy: therapists' difficulties in using silence as a therapeutic technique
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Authors
Warin, Tarsha
Supervisor
Joyce, Sue
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Auckland University of Technology
Abstract
The use of silence within psychotherapy for attentive listening, observation, self exploration
and creating a holding environment is well documented. Silence facilitates in creating an
interpersonal space where both therapist and client can communicate. It is the gateway that
leads from the conscious to unconscious; an effective vehicle for healing and change. This
dissertation explores why some psychotherapists may find silence uncomfortable, causing
difficulties in using silence as a therapeutic technique. Emphasis is placed on examining the
therapist’s developmental history and the therapist’s transference and countertransference
dynamics that influence the therapist’s experience and use of silence. The methodology for
this study is a modified systematic literature review with clinical illustrations.
Beginning with an overview of the historical development of the role and function of silence as
contextualised within a classical view and moving to more relational and transpersonal
approaches, silence is revealed as a multifaceted phenomenon with various contrasting
meanings and attitudes. Review of the literature indicates that the therapist’s preverbal
developmental deficits in relation to separation and threat of, or object loss, may cause the
therapist to be over-active, as words become the ‘metaphoric teddy bear’ used to fill the
absent and empty space within the therapeutic session. Findings support the notion that the
therapist’s unresolved conflicts will influence and impact on the transference and
countertransference dynamics, the use of silence and the therapeutic relationship. Gaining an
awareness and understanding of the therapist’s defences and transference and
countertransference reactions can be used to indicate difficulties with silence and thus
improve the quality and use of silence within the therapeutic situation. To be able to use
silence effectively in the therapeutic process, findings reveal that an important step for
therapists is to first learn to be alone with oneself in the silence.
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Keywords
Psychotherapy; Countertransference (Psychology); Psychotherapist and patient