The Role of Intuition in the Therapeutic Relationship: From research to practical approaches in treatment

For nearly a century, researchers have identified how influential intuition is in many fields, including psychology. Researchers have debated how intuition is shaped, defined, and how accurate and helpful it is (Volz & von Cramon, 2006; Dreyfus & Dreyfus, 1986). Many researchers and practitioners agree that no matter the origin, listening to your heart is highly effective (Hodgkinson etal, 2008; King etal, 1997; Benner etal, 1996; Dane etal, 2007; Burch etal 2008). More specifically, books including The Wonder of Girls (Gurian, 2002) and Women’s Ways of Knowing (Bleenky etal, 1986) highlight the value women find in validating their own subjective feeling of “rightness” or “authority”. This literature explains that females have a disposition to “feel knowledgeable” without knowing exactly where it comes from. This process has helped women construct a positive and confident self-perception based on moments when they act on their perception of what feels right to them.

Although session will not address all questions and debate surrounding intuition, it will highlight various theoretical principles regarding the effectiveness of listening to the intuitive processes, with specific attention to addressing the intuition of clinicians. Dreyfus etal (1986) found that the more experienced a clinician, the less their decisions were based on logic. Greenhalgh (2002) stated “reflecting retrospectively on the process of clinical intuition is a powerful educational tool. In particular, critical reflection on past intuitive judgments highlights areas of ambiguity in complex decision-making, sharpens perceptual awareness, exposes the role of emotions in driving ‘hunches,’ encourages a holistic view of the patient’s predicament, identifies specific educational needs, and may serve to ‘kick-start’ a more analytical chain of thought on particular problems.”

This session will make a case that treatment decisions can be positively influenced by intuition, to the benefit of the patient. It will direct participants to focus on the strengths of patients, especially their ability to live a more “intuitive” life. Finally, the session will look at the role of intuition in the treatment process for both patients and clinicans, and in the recovery process for patients.  Presentation will include the perspective of various clinicians and how they utilize intuition in their work with patients.