Article The New Emerges Out of the Old: An Integrated Relational Perspective on Psychological Development, Psychopathology, and Therapeutic Action

This article considers how new ways in which a client and therapist relate emerge out of old ways the client related to others, with the subsequent transformation of maladaptive schemas and ego state relational units (Little, 2006) into more adaptive schemas. The author explores the nature of the client’s pathology and maladaptive relational schemas and the therapeutic action that might be transformative for the client. He also examines a modern perspective on the transference-countertransference matrix and explores further the concept of optimal neutrality. Keywords relational, ego state relational units, transference-countertransference matrix, needed relationships