ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines psychoanalysis and Sigmund Freud's determination to have his work accepted as science. It introduces the ideas of the "post-secular" and explores how these may impact on psychotherapy. Freud's overt criticism of and theoretical rejection of religion has resulted in a turbulent relationship between psychotherapy and religion whether or not the practitioner claims allegiance to Freud. Freud was aware that the psyche or, as he would call it the unconscious, had historically been a matter for religion. The psyche had been the concern of religion because it was other worldly, unseen, unidentifiable. The bipolarisation of Freud and Rogers appears to happen across the board. Whilst practitioners trained in a variety of traditions, psychodynamic, person-centred, cognitive behavioural, gestalt and others who acknowledge their training in one approach would not confirm any specific orientation in practice.
