Is aesthetic relational knowing a common factor in psychotherapy?: a comparison among different models

• Margherita Spagnuolo Lobb ; Serena Iacono Isidoro ; Claudia Savia Guerrera ^[1] ; Febronia Riggio ^[2] ; Santo Di Nuovo ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Catania

     University of Catania

     Catania, Italia

     
  2. [2] University of Messina

     University of Messina

     Mesina, Italia

     
• Localización: EJIHPE: European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, ISSN 2174-8144, ISSN-e 2254-9625, Vol. 15, Nº. 2, 2025, págs. 16-16
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe15020016
• Enlaces
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• Resumen

  • This study explores how aesthetic relational knowing (ARK), as assessed by the ARK-T scale, is used by psychotherapists of different psychotherapeutic models. The ARK-T, a tool based on Gestalt therapy principles, evaluates three core factors of this therapeutic competence: body awareness, affective empathy, and intuitive resonance. A sample of 158 therapists from various approaches, including Gestalt therapy, cognitive–behavioral, systemic–relational, and psychodynamic models, participated in the study. The results show that while body awareness and affective empathy vary in emphasis, depending on the therapeutic approach, intuitive resonance emerges as a shared competence among therapists across orientations. These findings suggest that ARK, particularly the therapist’s capacity to attune to the client’s emotional and relational dynamics, may be a core component of effective therapy. The study highlights the significance of these relational competences in fostering effective therapeutic outcomes across diverse psychotherapeutic frameworks.

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