Feeling Formation in the Therapeutic Encounter

This talk by Ami Harbin, associate professor of philosophy and women and gender studies at Oakland University, considers the therapist-client relationship in therapeutic encounters, bringing insights from feminist relational philosophy of emotions to offer new directions for conceptualizing the relationship. It outlines and contest the presumption of individualism in some conceptualizations, which understand the therapist as having the key role of helping clients identify, manage or cope with their feelings. Drawing on feminist philosophy of emotion, and expressivism in particular, the talk articulates the need for a more robust understanding of therapists as sometimes participants in feeling formation. 

Harbin is a keynote speaker for Philosophy Graduate Student Conference hosted by the Department of Philosophy.