Ata: Journal of Psychotherapy Aotearoa New Zealand 67
Making Sense of the “Wounded Healer”
Phenomenon
Jordan Jamieson and Rhoda Scherman
Auckland University of Technology, Auckland
Abstract
The conceptualization of the “wounded healer” is so historic that its roots can be traced
back to the mythological fgures of ancient Greece. The construct has also been used to
illustrate the capacity of a certain inner “woundedness” within individuals that afects
(if not enhances) their abilities to heal others, even while atempting to heal themselves.
Yet, confusion remains as to what a “wounded healer” is, or how the woundedness serves
to help others. A review of this subject mater was undertaken by the frst author, under
the supervision of the second author, due to a personal interest in the topic, as well as in
anticipation of a career in counselling psychology. The paper was writen with the
intention to demystify the concept of “wounded healing” with further consideration of
its infuence on the therapist-client relationship. Afer describing the mythology,
vocation and wounded healer paradigm, the paper considers the empirical research on
the wounded healer phenomenon ending with some refections on wounded healing in
psychotherapy, and suggestions for further research.
Waitari
Nā te tino tawhito o te hiranga whakaaro mō te kaiwhakaora taotū ka taea te whai i ōna
pūtaketanga ake ki ngā whakaatanga pakiwaitara o Kiriki. Kua whakamahia anō hoki
tēnei aria hai tauira i te whānui o te ētahi mamae tautahi whakaroto ā-ngākau ā, ka
pawerahia tōna kaha ki te whakaora i ētahi atu ahakoa e whakatau ana ki te whakaora i a
rātou anō. Ahakoa tērā, kai te huri haere tonu ngā whakaaro ki te tikanga o tēnei mea te
“kaiwhakaora taotū” ki te mōhio rānei he aha tōna painga ki ētahi atu. I arotakehia tēnei
kaupapa e te kaituhi tuatahi, i raro i te maru o te kaituhi tuarua nā tōna kaingākau tonu
ki te kaupapa me te wawata ka tae hai kaimahi hinengaro. I āta tuhia tēnei korero ki te
whakanoa i te aria o te whakaora taotū, ki te te aro atu anō hoki ki tōna pānga ki te
whakawhanaungatanga o te kaihaumanu me te kiritaki. Kia mutu te whakamārama
pakiwaitara, mahi me aria o te kaiwhakaora taotū, ka tahuri ngā whakaaro ki ngā
rangahau kitea-ā-kanohi mō te wheako kaiwhakaora taotū, ka hoki whakamuri ai ki ngā
whakaoranga ake i roto i tēnei mahi me te whakatau anō ai i ētahi atu rangahautanga.
Jamieson, J., & Scherman, R. (2014). Making sense of the “wounded healer” phenomenom. Ata: Journal
of Psychotherapy Aotearoa New Zealand, 18(1), 67-79. DOI: 10.9791/ajpanz.2014.06 © New Zealand
Association of Psychotherapists Inc.