A Curious Calling: Unconscious Motivations for Practicing Psychotherapy

In this book, "What brings you here?" - the standard opening question asked in therapy - is posed to therapists themselves. It is a study of the unconscious factors that contribute to the decision to become a psychotherapist. Regardless of primary discipline, a major determinant of this career choice is the wish to resolve one's own emotional problems. When understood and mastered, however, such difficulties allow therapists to be more effective. Those who have experienced and borne emotional pain have an enhanced capacity to empathize with it and to understand it in others.
Sussman approaches therapists' motives from drive, self, and object relations theory. Some of the dynamics are: sadistic and masochistic tendencies, maternal identification, strong narcissistic needs for omnipotence, sensitivity to the unconscious needs of others, strong dependency needs, and unconscious rescue fantasies. Each therapist presents a unique combination of underlying dynamics contributing to the desire to practice psychotherapy. Some determinants promote the therapeutic process, while others are neurotic (or psychotic) and are potentially destructive.
There are hidden dangers for therapists when their motives remain unexplored. One of these hazards is that practitioners are at greater risk for burnout. By recognizing and mastering the pathological sources of their wish to heal, psychotherapists can ultimately heal their own wounds and achieve a more loving and creative helping capacity.

Special Features:
--presents the only book-length treatment of the crucial yet neglected topic of unconscious motivations for practicing psychotherapy
--provides an extensive literature review spanning Drive Theory, Self Theory, and Object Relations Theory
--includes discussion of the results of an author-conducted study of clinicians that explores such issues as vocational choice, experience as a therapist and as a patient, family background, and personal development

New to the Second Edition: --Foreward by Karen J. Maroda, Ph.D., assistant clinical professor of Psychiatry, Medical College of Wisconsin
--Introduction by the author, emphasizing how recent trends in clinical theory and practice indicate that the book's topic is more important than ever
--Afterword by the author that updates the literature review and addresses recent hot-button issues such as therapist self-disclosure and enactment

A Curious Calling was originally published by Jason Aronson in 1992 and featured as a Main Selection in the Psychotherapy Book News. It garnered favorable reviews in numerous professional journals, including: The British Journal of Psychiatry, The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, The Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, The American Journal of Psychoanalysis, Contemporary Psychology, and Psychoanalytic Books: A Quarterly Review of Journals.