Dialogism and psychotherapy: therapists’ and clients’ beliefs supporting monologism

This article discusses how the distinction proposed by Bakhtin between monologism
and dialogism can be applied to psychotherapy. According to the
Bakhtinian approach, complete monologism is impossible in human interaction,
given the responsive nature of humans. It is, however, possible to structure
psychotherapy so that it leans towards monologism, resulting in a reduction
of the diversity of voices or perspectives that can be “heard” in sessions. This
attempt to suppress dialogism can occur given the hierarchical nature of the
therapeutic relationship and can be reinforced by therapist and client beliefs that
support monologism. In the second part of the article we discuss a set of beliefs
from therapists and clients that support this conception of psychotherapy as a
monological endeavor.
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