Whereas we’d once believed that the symptoms and behavior…
““Whereas we’d once believed that the symptoms and behavior exhibited by our clients primarily reflected their psychological defenses—a view that attributed a degree of intentionality, no matter how unconscious—now, we better understood the symptoms as manifestations of instinctive brain and bodily survival responses. We understood that sympathetic activation fuels anxiety and rage, parasympathetic dominance causes shutdown and passive-aggressive behavior, flight responses spur fleeing the therapist’s office, and fight responses lead to verbal or physical aggression or violence turned against the self. When clients self-harm, for example, these days, we understand their actions to be instinctive, rather than thought out—an effort to regulate or relieve, rather than punish.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Symptoms reflect instinctive survival responses, not conscious choices; understanding this guides compassionate treatment.
In simple terms: Symptoms are survival instincts, not deliberate actions.
Key Takeaway
Treat symptoms as instinctive.
Themes
psychology
trauma
neuroscience
therapy
compassion
Mood
empathetic
analytical
hopeful
Type
Habits:0
Psychology:1
Instinctive Brain:1
Symptoms Behavior:0
Psychological Defenses:0
Manifestations Instinctive:0
Actions Instinctive:0
When to use this quote
- clinical work
- patient education
- self‑care plans
Key Concepts
clinical practice
biology
psychotherapy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this view change treatment?
- What strategies support regulation?
A Different Perspective
Instinctive responses may be misinterpreted as willful.