Kohut and Wolfe (1978) co-authored a book titled “The Disorders of the Self and Their Treatment: An Outline.”
The book builds on Kohut’s previous work on self psychology and expands on his theory of self-structure and the importance of the therapeutic relationship. The authors argue that psychological disorders often arise from disturbances in the development of the self, which can be caused by a variety of factors including childhood trauma, neglect, or emotional deprivation.
Kohut and Wolfe propose that the goal of therapy should be to help patients to develop a stronger sense of self and to integrate disowned aspects of themselves. They emphasize the importance of the therapeutic relationship, particularly the role of the therapist in providing empathic understanding and support.
The book outlines a number of therapeutic techniques that can be used to help xpertspatients develop a healthier sense of self, including mirroring, idealization, and transmuting internalization. These techniques are designed to help patients build a stronger sense of self and to repair the damage caused by early experiences of emotional deprivation or trauma.
Overall, Kohut and Wolfe’s work was influential in the development of the field of self-psychology, which emphasizes the importance of the self in psychological functioning and the need for individualized, empathic therapy to promote healthy self-development.
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