Will, Neurobiology and Psychotherapy

Abstract

In the beginning of 2008 two new books about will and psychotherapy were published. They were written by H. G. Petzold, J.Sieper and their associates. Although a couple of years earlier (2001 and 2004), some books about will have been published, they did not cover the ascertainments of neuroscience. Prefaces to both books are translated.—Both books can be considered as one. The first one focuses on fundamental theoretical issues, that deal with will and its understanding in psychotherapy. Then it covers the problem of “fit” in a therapeutic relationship. Secondly, if considers the problem of relationship “body and soul” and body, soul and spirit respectively (Petzold 2007).—However, the second book deals with practical and methodological questions, firstly, how to deal with will in psychotherapy. It is oriented on clinically practical therapy of will development in salutogenetical sense. Then we present activity and connection with creativity, that depicts people’s behaviour through evolution and in clinical practice that is at the same time art and therapy (Petzold, Orth 2007). In therapy we can find themes of will, freedom and creativity. Both books can also be readed separately.—We hope that these books will encourage psychotherapists to debate about questions of will - free volition and will in clinical sense - and to awake the interest of neuroscientists and the dialogue between psychology, philosophy and neurobiology. The wish of the authors is, that psychotherapists start dealing more with questions of will, volition and freedom in therapeutical practice and to use effective methods for work with problems of will.