Table Of ContentN ossrat Peseschkian
Positive Psychotherapy
Theory and Practice of a N ew Method
With 33 Figures
Springer-Verlag
Berlin Heidelberg NewYork
London Paris Tokyo
Dr. med. Nossrat Peseschkian
Facharzt für Neurologie
Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
An den Quellen 1, FRG 6200 Wiesbaden
Translated by Dr. Robert Walker
Tide of the Original German Edition:
N. Peseschkian, Positive Psychotherapie
© 1977 S. Fischer GmbH, Frankfurt a. M.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Peseschkian, Nossrat, Positive psychotherapy.
Translation of: Positive Psychotherapie.
Bibliography: p. IncIudes indexes.
1. Psychotherapy. 2. Interpersonal relations.
3. Self-care, Health. I. Tide.
RC480.5.P45213 1987 616.89'14 86-31596
ISBN-13: 978-3-540-15794-6 e-ISBN-13: 978-3-642-70715-5
001: 10.1007/978-3-642-70715-5
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part
of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse
of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in other
ways, and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is
only permitted under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9,
1965, in its version of June 24,1985, and a copyright fee must always be paid. Viola
tions fall under the prosecution act of the German Copyright Law.
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1987
Illustrations by Reinhold Henkel
2119/3140-543210
/fy ou give sorneone a fish,
he can feed hirnself only once.
/fy ou teach hirn to fish,
he will always be able to feed hirnself
Oriental saying
This book is dedicated
to my parents
Foreword
The union of Eastern and European points of view in an effective psycho
therapy, such as is described by the author, is very salutary. Especially the
parables portray, in attractive symbolism, the wisdom ofthe East, in which
psychological insights are represented in what seems to be the simplest
way. The author understands how to bring his heritage to bear upon psy
chotherapy. Although the categories of his psychological system, for ex
ample basic capacities and actual capacities, certainly represent only one
of many possible theoretical conceptions, we must conclude from his re
port that they can be used effectively in treatment. To be sure, such a sy
stem of categories, such a metapsychology, will be of greater assistance to
the therapist than to the patient in explanation and clarification. In the fi
nal analysis the only essential thing for the patient who seeks out the psy
chotherapist for help is whether the physician or psychologist is candid
with hirn and accepts hirn unconditionally, no matter what he is like.
Peseschkian's "positive psychotherapy" and the author's lucid personal
conduct transmit to the reader the impression that a born psychotherapist,
with a special motivation to assist professionally those who consult hirn in
the resolution of their conflicts, is at work. I wish the author complete suc
cess with this book.
Prof. Raymond Battegay, M. D.
Psychiatrische Universitätspoliklinik Basel
Preface to the English Edition
One shouldn 't throw old habits out the window
all at once, but rather accompany them to the
door like an amiable guest.
Oriental proverb
Since the publication of the German edition, my psychotherapeutic
approach has continued to develop; it has proven itself as an effective
method in psychotherapy, and has been presented at a large number of
national and international congresses and in numerous periodicals, Psy
chological research studies on Positive Psychotherapy (questionnaires,
semantic differential, etc.) have, to the degree that they have already been
evaluated, substantiated my views, which had already been verified theo
retically and practically. The reaction of specialists, journals, and readers
to my books has been a source of positive motivation for me.
The expression "positive" in Positive Psychotherapy should be taken to
mean that the therapy is not primarily directed toward resolving an exist
ing disturbance, but rather toward first mobilizing the available capacities
and self-help potential. "Positive" means, in accordance with its original
definition ("positum "), the "real," the "given." Real and given facts are not
necessarily just conflicts and disturbances, but also capacities which every
human being has within hirn.
It is taken for granted that about 50% of a11 i11nesses remain in the
extramedical sphere; thus, only 50% of cases are dealt with in any way by
physicians, whether in or out of clinics. Many patients receive counseling
and treatment in the "lay system," as medical sociologists call it, i. e., from
neighbors, acquaintances, relatives, so-ca11ed lay people, but also from
pharmacists, teachers, nurses (hospital and private), cosmetologists, etc.
In this book, the main psychological and psychosomatic disturbances
are presented. In addition, basic models for psychotherapeutic treatment
of these disturbances are introduced. In Positive Psychotherapy, treatment
is not limited to the immediate doctor-patient relations hip but rather
includes strategies of self-help and preventive measures in rearing. The
goal is to familiarize even the physician without psychotherapeutic train
ing with practicable procedures, and to enable the layman to take a differ-
IX
entiated view of the mental illnesses, which are the object of a great deal of
prejudice. To each ofthe thematic groups treated is appended, as an aid to
understanding, an Oriental story with critical interpretation.
By means of a multitude of different methods, cases, and examples,
Positive Psychotherapy is presented as a new form of psychotherapy.
Especially noteworthy is the continuity of illness-culture-family-rearing
and psychotherapy.
Positive Psychotherapy is not to be conceived of as an isolated form of
treatment; rather, it is closely intertwined with rearing, which is mostly
conducted by the reference person; self-help, which is mostly conducted
by the patient; and psychotherapy, which is mostly conducted by the psy
chotherapist. New possibilities for psychotherapy are pointed out which
not only have asound economic basis but also are profoundly effective
and, in addition, closely related to other psychotherapeutic methods. The
well-known therapeutic schools of psychoanalysis, individual psychology,
behavior therapy, logotherapy, transaction analysis, analytical psychology,
and group psychotherapy are discussed and compared with Positive Psy
chotherapy.
Starting from a model of the etiology of psychological and psychoso
matic ailments, a practicable model of psychotherapeutic procedure is
developed: the five-stage treatment strategy of Positive Psychotherapy,
with modifications of this strategy for the domain of self-help being
pointed out.
Furthermore, the dynamic interconnections among partnershipl, pro
fession, and religion are interpreted in the light of examples and cases, as
are achievement norms and the relationship one has with one's own future
and with the meaning of life. Special attention is paid to attitudes and
expectations in the domains of "trust," "hope," and "faith." The mother
child relationship, as weil as the father-mother-child relationship, is pre
sented in terms of its significance for the development of capacities. The
individual relationship with the near and distant future is compared with
the institutions which claim to transmit universally valid meaning con
tents. In this way, the significance of the churches and religions is
addressed from the viewpoint of the dimension of time.
I am grateful to colleagues and patients for the insights with which they
have provided me during the course of my psychiatric and psychothera
peutic activity. I would like to refer those readers who are interested in a
systematic presentation of Positive Psychotherapy within the framework
The relationship between a "partner" and his or her "reference person"; espe
1
cially the relationship between husband and wife.
x
of family therapy and self-help to my books Positive Family Therapy; Psy
chotherapy 0/ Everyday Life; Oriental Stories as Tools in Psychotherapy:
The Merchant and the Parrot; and In Search 0/ Meaning: A Psychotherapy
0/ Small Steps (published by Springer-Verlag).
Wiesbaden, Spring, 1987 Nossrat Peseschkian
Acknowledgments
This book could not have been written if it had not been for the coopera
tion and openness of my patients who have so willingly allowed me to
inc1ude their case histories in this publication. Naturally I have changed
names and dates to preserve their anonymity. Nevertheless, to maintain
the documentary value of the cases, I have inc1uded the oral and written
reports word for word insofar as this was possible.
Special gratitude goes to my colleague Dieter Schön, M. D., for his help
ful suggestions. I also thank my colleague Mr. Hans Deidenbach, beavior
al therapist and psychotherapist in Wiesbaden. My secretaries, Mrs. Krie
ger, Mrs. Hofmann, and Mrs. Berdjis-Schaefer have provided valuable
help through their untiring and meticulous work. I would like to express
my warm thanks to the translator, Dr. Robert Walker.
Loving appreciation goes to friends and colleagues; their wisdom and
encouragement have on many occasions been like the bread of life.
Finally, I am thankful to my wife Manije and sons Hamid and Nawid,
who ins pi red so much of this book.
Wiesbaden, 1987 Nossrat Peseschkian
Description:The union of Eastern and European points of view in an effective psycho therapy, such as is described by the author, is very salutary. Especially the parables portray, in attractive symbolism, the wisdom ofthe East, in which psychological insights are represented in what seems to be the simplest w
