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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 November 2009
Why start with the consideration of concerns?
Starting a book about psychotherapy with a discussion of concerns is appropriate because it is a concern about something that takes people to a therapist in the first place. People seeking psychotherapy may be concerned about the symptoms of a psychological disorder. More usually, even if they have a psychological disorder, their concern is about a crisis in relationships or in everyday life – an existential crisis
(Coursey, Keller & Farrell, 1995).What is a concern?
Concerns are ‘… the more or less enduring disposition to prefer particular states of the world. A concern is what gives a particular event its emotional meaning’ and emotions ‘arise from the interaction of situational meanings and concerns’ (Frijda, 1988). Concern is therefore ‘a motivation construct. It refers to the dispositions that motivate a subject, that prompt him to go in search of a given satisfaction or to avoid given confrontations’
(Frijda, 1986, p. 334).An example of a concern
Alan suffered brain damage at birth. Despite this and the developmental problems consequent on it, he had been able to get to university, but found that he was unable to make friends or be taken seriously by his peers. His awareness of that diminished when he was with his family, with whom he had a close relationship, and, unless he thought or talked about the university, he had no particular distress about his social isolation when he was at home.
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