This paper is a review of James F. T. Bugental's The Art of the Psychotherapist. Written by a therapist with almost 50 years' experience, this book argues that truly effective psychotherapy is more of an art than a science. Bugental contends that the experienced therapist's most important tool is a highly developed intuitive sense, allowing him or her to understand the subjectivity of both the patient and the therapist. Bugental suggests that life-changing therapy is only possible when the therapist comprehends the unique way in which the client sees the world. His book is written for experienced therapists, instructors, and researchers; he cautions that his techniques cannot be used by therapists who have not yet gained a certain level of competence and experience. However, his techniques for mastering the art of meaningful conversation can be especially useful even for the beginning counsellor.
Bugental's book is aimed at therapists engaged in what he calls intensive, life-changing, or depth therapy. He differentiates this from treatment programs designed to deal with specific problems; his methods are aimed at therapy that takes place at least twice a week over a period of years, and he suggests that all schools of therapy would benefit from his techniques.
Bugental contends that the initial training period is aimed at producing competent therapists who have a thorough grounding in the approach they have chosen to take to therapy. He suggests that, after this initial learning period, therapists then begin a lifelong process of becoming masters of their art. Because psychotherapy is, in the end, an art, rather than a science, the effort continues as the artist's personal and professional challenge throughout the rest of his or her career. Bugental (1987) writes, "True art is only to found on the edge of what is known - a dangerous place to be, an exciting place to work, a continually unsettling place to live subjecti...