Dr. Allen will discuss ideas from his recent book, Trusting in Psychotherapy, published by American Psychiatric Association in 2021. Ironically, while we therapists all agree that trust is crucial in psychotherapy, trust is relatively neglected in the psychotherapy literature. Trusting is unreasonable if the trusted person is not trustworthy, and our trustworthiness is almost entirely neglected. We take our understanding of trust for granted, and we tend to focus on our patients’ distrust while taking our trustworthiness for granted. While not questioning therapists’ character, this presentation advocates thinking differently about trust and trustworthiness. Using a developmental perspective, the presentation challenges the psychotherapy field’s preoccupation with developing hundreds of brands of therapy to the neglect of the personal and professional development of therapists. Using the rich contemporary philosophical literature in ethics to illuminate the complexities of trust, the presenter argues for a focus on becoming trustworthy in each patient-therapist relationship and over the course of a lifetime.

Jon G. Allen, PhD, holds the position of Clinical Professor as a member of the voluntary faculty in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He is a member of the faculty emeriti at the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies in Houston and an adjunct faculty member of the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center. Dr. Allen received his B.A. degree in psychology at the University of Connecticut and his Ph.D. degree in clinical psychology at the University of Rochester. He completed postdoctoral training in clinical psychology at The Menninger Clinic. While remaining engaged in education and research, he retired from clinical practice after 40 years at The Menninger Clinic, where he taught and supervised fellows and residents along with conducting psychotherapy, diagnostic consultations, psychoeducational programs, and research on clinical outcomes. He is past editor of the Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic and a member of the editorial board of Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes. In addition to his recent book, his other books include Coping with Trauma: From Self-Understanding to Hope; Coping with Depression: From Catch-22 to Hope; Restoring Mentalizing in Attachment Relationships: Treating Trauma with Plain Old Therapy; and, with coauthors Peter Fonagy and Anthony Bateman, Mentalizing in Clinical Practice, all published by American Psychiatric Publishing. He is also author of Traumatic Relationships and Serious Mental Disorders and coeditor, with Peter Fonagy, of Handbook of Mentalization-Based Treatment, both published by John Wiley and Sons, as well as author of Mentalizing in the Development and Treatment of Attachment Trauma, published by Karnac. He has authored and coauthored numerous professional articles and book chapters on trauma-related problems, psychotherapy, the therapeutic alliance, hospital treatment, and psychological assessment.

Allen, J.G. (2021). Trusting in Psychotherapy. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Fonagy, P., Allison, E., & Campbell, C. (2019). "Mentalizing, resilience, and epistemic trust". In A. Bateman & P. Fonagy (Eds.), Handbook of mentalizing in mental health practice (pp. 63-78). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Jones, K. (2012). "Trustworthiness". Ethics, 123, 61-85.

1302 Waugh Dr. #276, Houston, TX 77019

(713) 429-5810

Visit Website | Email Us

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of American Psychoanalytic Association and the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies, as a co-sponsor of Houston Psychoanalytic Society. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.