The modern view of the self, the view that dominates within the psychotherapeutic community, is characterized by what Charles Taylor has called the “buffered self.” For a variety of reasons, which Taylor describes in his book A Secular Age, the modern notion of self-hood became introverted and individualistic, the self as isolated and distinct (“buffered”) from the world. The notion of a self-determined, isolated, autonomous ego is a ubiquitous feature within modernity. The buffered self is a critical feature in how we moderns view our social contract, politically and economically. Further, the self-focus inherent in the notion of the buffered self has been a driving force behind many of the trends we see in the rise of psychotherapy. Extreme introversion is seen in the rise of Freudian psychoanalysis, a prime example of the modern commitment to the buffered self. Consider also the psychotherapeutic concerns with self-esteem, self-improvement, self-help, and self-actualization. All these manifestations of the introverted individualism of the buffered self are enshrined in the language of mental health and psychotherapy. Consequently, I think it important to note that the worry over “boundaries” is taking place within this context and, as a consequence, may be doubling down on modern values that Christian psychotherapists might want to revisit or, at the very least, sharply criticize.

The above passage comes from Richard Beck’s book Unclean. I’ll try to explain how much I like this book, and Dr. Beck, by saying this: If I ever decided to become a full-time, career academic, there are only a few people I would want to have mentor me, Dr. Beck is one of them.

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