Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Dissertations Graduate College 12-1990 Applications of the Tap Te Chino of Lao Tzu to Psychotherapy Theory and Technique Thomas E. Hranilovich Western Michigan University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations Part of the Counseling Commons Recommended Citation Hranilovich, Thomas E., "Applications of the Tap Te Chino of Lao Tzu to Psychotherapy Theory and Technique" (1990). Dissertations. 2064. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/2064 This Dissertation-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. APPLICATIONS OF THE TAP TE CHINO OF LAO TZU TO PSYCHOTHERAPY THEORY AND TECHNIQUE by Thomas E. Hranilovich A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan December 1990 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. APPLICATIONS OF THE TAP TE CHINO OF LAO TZU TO PSYCHOTHERAPY THEORY AND TECHNIQUE Thomas E. Hranilovich, Ed.D. Western Michigan University, 1990 Existing paradigms in psychology are almost exclusively founded upon the hypothetico-deductive scientific tradition. As a consequence, prevalent psychotherapy theories and techniques are also founded upon this tradition. In recent years the realization has been growing, even among its adherents, that the hypothetico-deductive method is not the only avenue to knowledge about the nature of existence. An alternate avenue is provided by the mystic tradition, as exemplified by Zen Buddhism, Hesychasm, Indian and Tibetan Yoga, Sufism, Christian mysticism, Hindu mysticism, Jewish mysticism, and Taoism. This study is an examination of the central beliefs of tao chia. or the Taoist school, and a review of the literature to assess the extent to which these beliefs have been considered as an alternative or an adjunct to the hypothetico- deductive scientific tradition in the development of psychotherapy theory and technique. The focus is on the Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu, the core text of philosophical Taoism, which is examined for elements which are of application to working with clients in psychotherapy. Presented are ways in which the concepts of the Tao Te Chlng can be synthesized with the concepts of existing psychotherapy systems to form an integrated psychotherapy system, and also ways in which the concepts of the Tao Te Chlng can be used to supplement the concepts of existing psychotherapy Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. systems. The intent is to stimulate deliverers of mental health services to consider alternate worldviews, and thus alternate psychotherapy paradigms, and to expand their repertoire of techniques for working with clients. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. INFORMATION TO USERS The most advanced technology has been used to photograph and reproduce this manuscript from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. 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Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright by Thomas E. Hranilovich 1990 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. DEDICATION To my wife Barb, without whose help and participation not only this dissertation but my whole life would not have been possible. Thomas E. Hranilovich ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am greatly indebted to William A. Carlson, Ed.D., not only for his contribution as Chair of my dissertation committee but also for the years of clinical supervision and mentoring which he provided for me throughout my doctoral training. There is no doubt that much of what I am today as a psychologist and psychotherapist I owe to his example as a caring, ethical and dedicated healer. Many thanks go to H. Byron Earhart, Ph.D., for his contribution to this dissertation through his expertise in Japanese and Chinese religion, philosophy, and culture. His guidance and critical feedback have contributed greatly to the scholasticism of the present work. Thanks also go to Robert Betz, Ph.D., not only for his participation on my dissertation committee but also for the contributions he made to my training and development as a psychologist during the course of my doctoral program. Special thanks go to Morvin A. Wirtz, Ph.D., and DeColius Johnson, Ph.D. Dr. Wirtz provided much appreciated editorial input, encouragement, and advice throughout the dissertation process. For the past two and one-half years Dr. Johnson has provided not only valuable and much appreciated clinical supervision but also much needed mentoring and support, without which I would not have gotten through the dissertation process half so well as I have. Thomas E. Hranilovich i l l Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION................................................................................................................ i i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.......................................................... i i i LIST OF FIGURES..................................................................................................... vi CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................ 1 Problem Background ..................................... ............................... 3 Combining Psychological Knowledge With the Tao Te Ching: An In teg rated Psychotherapy System................................................................ 15 II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE............................................................... 18 Taoism and Psychotherapy......................................................... 18 Taoism and Cyclic Change......................................................... 32 Taoism and Scientific Paradigms.......................................... 34 Taoism and the Self ............................... 37 Taoism and Organizational Relations.................................. 38 Taoism in Modern Chinese Psychology.................................. 38 A Summary of the Literature .................................................. 39 I I I . THE TAO TE CHING OF LAO TZU: INTERPRETATION, MEANING, AND MYSTICISM................................................................ 41 The Meaning of th e T itle ......................................................... 42 Factors Which Affect Interpretation .................................. 43 Expressing the Inexpressible: Levels of Meaning in the Tao Te Ching. ................................................ 50 The Tao Te Ching: A Summary................................................ 59 lv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Contents—Continued CHAPTER Combining Psychological Knowledge With the Tao Te Ching; An Integrated Psychotherapy System................................................................ 60 IV. THE TAO TE CHIHG CONSIDERED