Special Section: Alvin R. Mahrer, Ph.D. (Guest Editor): What Can the Clinician Trust—Research? Theory? Clinical Knowledge?: Introduction to a Serious Problem and Preview of Some Solutions

This article addresses a serious problem faced by the field of psychotherapy in relying upon and trusting research, theory, clinical knowledge, or other sources as real, hard, and objective. The serious underlying problem is that the field lives and works in an aerie-faerie world composed of ethereal, illusory, false “psychorealities.” Although grand solutions have been introduced, none has succeeded in solving the problem. The introduction concludes with a preview of some current solutions by some of the leading proponents dealing with the problem of what the clinician can trust.