Investigating the therapist's position: a critical reappraisal of Gianfranco Cecchin's writings

Abstract

In its complex evolution, Gianfranco Cecchin® work shows some constant themes. The most important of them may be considered the investigation of the therapist's position, which underlies most of Cecchin’s innovative ideas. This paper aims at examining the body of Cecchin’s writing:, looking for this essential ingredient of his thinking, and following its development, from the position of neutrality conceived within the original Milan team, to the idea of irreverence and the cybernetics of prejudices proposed in his later work. This examination: allows to shed a new light on some peculiarities of Cecchin’s way of understanding and doing therapy. ... My operation has been mainly one of subtraction of weight... when the kingdom of human kind seems to me condemned to heaviness. I think I should fly. like Perseus. in another space... I mean I must change my approach, I must look at the world with another logic. other methods for knowing and checking. Italo Calvino, Lightness! We no longer share common values and assumptions. nor do we believe there is a truth or reason behind our values: we always speak and view provisionally, for we cannot be fully committed to what we say. Claire Colebrook, Jrony? 1 Calvino, 1988, pp. 631-635 2 Colebrook, 2004. p. 18.