Loneliness is Lethal

Humans are not wired for loneliness. Humans are creatures of communication and emotional networks for their survival and self-actualization. We are relationship dependent entities of intelligent matter. We also need autonomy, individuality and distance at times. Some prefer and survive solitude. I myself enjoy escaping life into the wilderness and could make due for quit sometime in the absence of society. In the end, to be a hermit is an anomaly and less practical in this day of age. We as humans have our dichotomy and preference. The truth stands however, that we are interconnected and thrive as such. Psychotherapy should be no different.
The late Carl Rogers (famous psychologist) once implied that loneliness is lethal. In reading Carl Rogers I came to believe further that diagnosis and objectifying a patient can exsacherbate symptomology and the loneliness of the patient. Mentally ill individuals are often plagued with great loneliness, rejection and being misunderstood by themselves and others. Replicating that through objectification of a patient and over emphasis on diagnosis is not healing. Psychotherapy is a healing art through a humanistic relationship, knowledge of psychology and therapeutic treatment modalities. Psychology is still the study of the soul and their for treatment of the soul. Objectifying the soul is damaging.
Carl Rogers pioneered client centered therapy. I am not a Rogerian therapist but I do believe in his five levels of empathy and client centered approach to therapy. I believe psychotherapy is an existential encounter and should be regarded as a interpersonal relationship. A humanistic approach must always be present with great measure. Maybe I am Rogerian according to the spirit of Rogerian therapy. As an integrative therapist I feel I can identify myself and therapeutic interactions across several theories and modalities.
As Carl Rogers I propose the question: "If only they had known that treating a person as an object always stands in the way of successful therapy?"
This applies to relationship satisfaction in general. If you treat your spouse, children, relatives, friends, co-workers and others as objects it will always stand in the way of having a meaningful and healthy relationship.
Are you having real relationships or approaching people as objects and simply means to an end? We often can use relationships to simply meet our own emotional, psychological and physical needs.
I would invite us to be more cognizant of how we approach those closest to us. People are people; not objects.
Book Title:
A Way Of Being by Carl Rogers