"being-with"

Advances in technology, science, medicine, and other areas of human development offer new ways to help others and ourselves. Optimal helping, however, is a bit more controversal and debatable. What is best? There are so many methods, so many practices! With "psychotherapy," Freud's couch, his exclusive dictir-patient relationship, has been replaced by a host of methods, including biological and chemical treatments, televideo sessions, the telephone, etc. While most of these may help to one degree or other, I do believe they include a bit of the "less than fundamental" for treatment. Of utmost and optimal significance, I argue, is the real, in-person "being-with" relationship between the psychotherapist and the client. The physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dynamic presence and "team work" of each, working together for understanding, insight and direction for change offers optimal and "most real," most in-the-present, most mutually respectful and appreciative atmosphere for well-being. While many may argue this belief, I suspect all would gain much from such an experience in today's world, in or outside of the therapy.