ABSTRACT
In this chapter, I will first provide a definition of adult crying, followed by what little data we have on the frequency of crying in psychotherapy. Next, the major theoretical views on crying in psychotherapy will be presented, including psychodynamic, experiential, cognitive-behavioral, and primal therapy perspectives. Ideas about crying in response to happy events will also be described. The therapist’s stance toward crying in treatment will be explored, as will case studies in which crying frequency was changed. Finally, the consequences of crying in psychotherapy and empirical data on the efficacy of crying in psychotherapy will be presented. Directions for research on the role of crying in psychotherapy will also be discussed.
