Addressing materialism and illusionism in anthroposophic psychotherapy

ABSTRACTThis article looks at work conditions in our current age brought about by materialism. In particular, it looks at the damaging effects of materialistic scientific management principles and the allied condition of illusionism. It shows how the policies of society based on neoliberal managed care principles are not only inadequate for addressing the problem but actually exacerbate it since they adopt the self-same materialistic principles. In contrast, it argues for a psychotherapeutic response based on the principles of anthroposophic psychotherapy and other similarly socially and politically aware therapies such as intersubjectivity and relational psychoanalysis.