May 11, 2020

The Person of the Therapist

51 minutes

An interview with Dr. Harry Aponte about challenging the idea that therapists can be blank screens or “surgeons.” We talk with Dr. Aponte about the importance of the self of the therapist in creating the relationship and doing effective clinical work. We also look into his Person of the Therapist Training and much of his body of work supporting therapists as well as communities of color.

Interview with Dr. Harry J. Aponte, HPhD, MSW, LCSW, LMFT

Dr. Harry J. Aponte, HPhD, MSW, LCSW, LMFT, is a family therapist known for his writings and workshops on the person of the therapist, spirituality in therapy, therapy with disadvantaged and culturally diverse families, and structural family therapy. Dr. Aponte was a staff member and teacher of family therapy at the Menninger Clinic, and subsequently Director of the Philadelphia Child Guidance Center. Currently, Dr. Aponte is clinical associate professor in the Couple & Family Therapy Program of Drexel University in Philadelphia. He has a private practice in Philadelphia, and conducts training and workshops throughout the country and abroad.

Dr. Aponte published Bread & Spirit through Norton, a book that speaks to therapy with today’s poor in the context of ethnicity, culture and spirituality.

Dr. Aponte and Dr. Karni Kissil have edited a book entitled The Person of the Therapist Training Model: Mastering the Use of Self, published by Routledge (2016).

In this episode we talk about:

Aponte’s story, including his work with Salvador Minuchin, Virginia Satir, Murray Bowen

Debunking the idea that therapists act as surgeons and that clients from marginalized communities “don’t talk.”

Aponte’s racial background interacting with the work that he did

The reasons he was asked so frequently asked to work with families in poverty-stricken areas

How the ideas in The Person of the Therapist came to be

Bringing mental health into communities of color

Social justice and advocacy within the therapist’s purview

Working with Jim Lester, an activist in Philadelphia, to bridge the gap between education, mental health services for kids who were truant

The ideas of structural therapy being translated into the communities

The difference of lived experience in bringing oneself into the therapeutic relationship

The Person of the Therapist training at Drexel University

How Harry’s personal experiences continue to impact his work

What is missing in most clinical training

The use of self in therapy

The importance of knowing yourself before you become a therapist

The idea that you must also know your hang ups and challenges and what you’ll be bringing into the room, so you can recognize and be “with” your clients

“Therapy is not a conversation; it is an experience.” – Dr. Harry Aponte

The vulnerability of being a therapist and the need to do work your work early in your training

The importance of doing versus reading about what should be done

Reasons that understanding yourself and bringing yourself into room provides better therapy

Resources mentioned:

We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!

Family Therapy Pioneer Salvador Minuchin on the Therapist’s Self (article in Psychotherapy Networker)

The Person of the Therapist Training Model: Mastering the Use of Self (book)

Relevant Episodes:

How to BE a Therapist

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)

Our consultation services:

The Fifty-Minute Hour

Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/

...more

View all episodes

By Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT

4.3

237237 ratings

May 11, 2020

The Person of the Therapist

51 minutes

The Person of the Therapist

Interview with Dr. Harry J. Aponte, HPhD, MSW, LCSW, LMFT

Dr. Aponte published Bread & Spirit through Norton, a book that speaks to therapy with today’s poor in the context of ethnicity, culture and spirituality.

Dr. Aponte and Dr. Karni Kissil have edited a book entitled The Person of the Therapist Training Model: Mastering the Use of Self, published by Routledge (2016).

In this episode we talk about:

Aponte’s story, including his work with Salvador Minuchin, Virginia Satir, Murray Bowen

Debunking the idea that therapists act as surgeons and that clients from marginalized communities “don’t talk.”

Aponte’s racial background interacting with the work that he did

The reasons he was asked so frequently asked to work with families in poverty-stricken areas

How the ideas in The Person of the Therapist came to be

Bringing mental health into communities of color

Social justice and advocacy within the therapist’s purview

Working with Jim Lester, an activist in Philadelphia, to bridge the gap between education, mental health services for kids who were truant

The ideas of structural therapy being translated into the communities

The difference of lived experience in bringing oneself into the therapeutic relationship

The Person of the Therapist training at Drexel University

How Harry’s personal experiences continue to impact his work

What is missing in most clinical training

The use of self in therapy

The importance of knowing yourself before you become a therapist

The idea that you must also know your hang ups and challenges and what you’ll be bringing into the room, so you can recognize and be “with” your clients

“Therapy is not a conversation; it is an experience.” – Dr. Harry Aponte

The vulnerability of being a therapist and the need to do work your work early in your training

The importance of doing versus reading about what should be done

Reasons that understanding yourself and bringing yourself into room provides better therapy

Resources mentioned:

Family Therapy Pioneer Salvador Minuchin on the Therapist’s Self (article in Psychotherapy Networker)

The Person of the Therapist Training Model: Mastering the Use of Self (book)

Relevant Episodes:

How to BE a Therapist

Connect with us!

Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group

Get Notified About Therapy Reimagined 2020 (and TR2019 Virtual Conference)