Truth and Psychotherapy‪.‬

This article discusses the question of truth in the practice of existential therapy. In this context, the relation of truth and lie, or falsehood, is important, both in human relations in general, and, more specifically, in the client's and therapist's communication in the process of psychotherapy. This relation is inseparable from the language which we use to express (or conceal) our own truths. It is obvious that words appear to be a very imperfect means to express truths, since the truth commonly lies "beyond words". In many cases, "stories", "descriptions" or, in general, any verbal narratives allow to distort or conceal truth. The relation of psychotherapeutic "theories" and "models of usefullness" (A. Mahrer) is discussed. The latter is supposed to also include existential therapy: it sceptically views possibilities that final or objective truths may exist at all and emphasizes subjectivity of any truths. On the other hand, this may pose certain threats to a therapist tempting to make "a deal" with a client in accepting his/her distorted perspective of reality, in helping to conceal its truths and also avoiding, together with the client, to bring forward painful aspects of life. A therapist should seek to maintain the perspective of life of the client as wide as possible with more attention to what is true for the client and what is provided by these truths in his/her everyday life. Even without acceptance of clients' truths, it is possible to try to understand and respect their choice. The question about what is truth remains one of the most important problems of philosophy. Searching for a reply, the possible space extends from antiquity to post-modernism.