Mr Adam Szmerling

A conversation with Adam Szmerling

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

  I have never been able to think of any profession more interesting than dynamic psychotherapy, where we encounter the unconscious every day. Not that other professions or relationships are without transferences or an unconscious, but psychotherapy contains an intentional interest into the unconscious. In a sense, people pay you to interpret their unconscious. And, I have never worked with someone and not learned something new, and for this reason I would never choose another profession.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  Buddhism, specifically Theravada in the practice of non-dual, nonjudgmental observation and of course the now fashionable, mindfulness meditation. Coupled with Lacanian Psychoanalysis the critical element of speech often so lacking in meditation can't be said to be a 'complete' system but certainly the best I know.

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

  I have a special interest in the relationship between guilt and the world. Also the differences between shame and guilt, especially those unconscious elements and where self-deception comes into play. I'm fascinated by how we are so committed to the status quo even when it's unpleasant or destructive.

• What methods do you use?

  Lacanian Psychoanalysis and some elements of Buddhist Meditation theory, but with a special interest in bringing unconscious elements of the psyche, especially those most shameful aspects, into speech, into discourse. In Medicare-rebated sessions under a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan, I use focussed psychological strategies (FPS).

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

  I wish this could be answered in a generalisable way but the fact is psychotherapy is not linear, some people feel better after the first session, where many feel more vulnerable at first. Depending on the transference, the person's history, how realistic are their expectations, and their commitment, deep progress can take quite some time...that said feeling better isn't tantamount to getting better and just talking can sometimes provide relief quickly. But for deeper changes to be realised it may take months or years.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  Therapy forces me to step outside myself and listen to people in a way that starts with the assumption that I don't know what they're talking about. Put differently, that I can learn something new from what they have to say, no matter how trivial they themselves may think of their own speech at times. So therapy makes me better in the sense of busting the illusion that we all think the same.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  I like that in every session, no matter how many years I've worked with a patient, I always learn something... And, moments of insight are definitely likeable, where the patient arrives at their own insights and therefore the changes are more congruent and lasting.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Actually, I treat a number of patients presenting with what is often called trichotillomania or compulsive hair pulling, so forgive me if I don't answer this question so literally. Ok, so some days are better than others. I am a very reflective therapist who meditates upon each patient and often I wish I had said this or that differently or not at all in a given session, but it's usually a lesson that it would have been better to say less or nothing at all and follow the patients lead...

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

  Aggressive narcissism, or any process where people are reduced to objects in the actions of others. Out of this excessive competitiveness and striving for more

• Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?

  Song: "Ladder" by Stuart Davis.