Why psychoanalysis failed to embrace dialectics: Pathways for progressive change through implicit psychotherapy - Part II

Abstract

This paper, the second of a two-part essay, delves into the implicit and immediate factors within psychotherapy, positioning estrangement from oneself and to the environment as a core psychopathological issue. Implicit Psychotherapy, as proposed and outlined in this paper is the technical aspect of Dialectical Dynamic Therapy (DDT), which itself is rooted in the Dialectical Discourse. Aiming for the most profound “healing” possible, this approach directly engages the symbolic network of the mind to minimize resistance to change. The individual obstacle in this process is highlighted as escape from oneself driven by traumatic memories. The subtle and encrypted communication between patient and therapist serves to protect both the individual’s unique essence and the purity of the therapeutic process from the external symbolic impositions, which is the second obstacle in treatment. Finally, this approach facilitates the Hegelian process sublation (Aufhebung) of the power dilemma which is inherently linked to trauma. The essay explores a novel “digital brain” model of mind, and the internal moderation concept, highlighting their potential contributions to machine learning applications which would serve for exploration of the opportunities embedded in Implicit Psychotherapy. The development of a Symbol Relations Theory remains as the next theoretical task following this essay which would complete the full set basic knowledge which the proposed psychotherapy approach is to be grounded upon. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.