Facts, Values, and What Really Matters in Therapy

What does it mean to be an “objective” analyst? For over a century, psychoanalytic training has emphasized neutrality—the notion that therapists must bracket their own moral beliefs and personal biases, guiding patients instead by what can be observed, interpreted, and explained. At first glance, this commitment echoes the larger shift in modern knowledge that arose during the scientific revolution, when “facts” became synonymous with what could be measured, verified, and empirically validated.

Philosophers have cautioned, however, that separating facts from values is not as simple as it seems. In the consulting room, the analyst is constantly faced with “oughts” and “shoulds,” both explicit and implicit. Should I intervene here? Is it good for my patient to pursue this goal? Is this desi