Subjectivity refers to the process of deepening one's connection with self, unlocking doors, and exposing their purpose of existence. Through the discovery of who they are, human beings can interact and build relationships with others. One of the champions of subjectivity, James Bugental, acknowledges the importance of subjectivity and objectivity and their connection to therapy . For the longest time, therapists have concentrated on the objective theory. Bugental, through his work, encouraged the consideration of subjectivity as an integral part of therapy. The human subjective, according to Bugental, is the most powerful force, as it brings out the ruthlessness and ambition of Hitler, as well as, the dedication and creativity of atomic bomb creators.
The Subjective Experience
Human life has both the subjective and objective aspects. The objective aspects include physical dimensions, movements, and sensory potential, while the subjective elements include feelings and emotions, ideas and understanding, and implications and intentions. What it means to be human is an understanding of both realms as they influence most of our living. The primary conviction of the subjective perspective is that a person is an autonomous being. Although human beings share most of the objective characteristics, each is unique in their way. It is in getting to know them that all the mysteries are unlocked. In the state of subjectivity, therefore, human beings’ welcome others into their realm of inner thoughts, intuitions, and vulnerabilities. "Subjective experiencing is a dimension of events that everyone knows intimately. Every individual lives in his or her subjective experiencing and looks out at the world from it and through it" (Gendlin, 1997, p. 228) . In The Art of the Psychotherapist , James Bugental emphasizes on the importance of subjectivity in life-changing psychotherapy. For the longest time, the objectivity narrative has been the central theme, particularly in Western culture. The subjectivity approach, on the other hand, was viewed as a ludicrous and shameful idea. "We have come to react with repugnance or shame to that which is labeled 'subjective' and to confuse the term with sentimentality, undisciplined permissiveness, and moral 'softness'" (Bugental, 1992, p.4). However, life-changing psychotherapy, whose unique characteristics and outcomes have come to be appreciated, is based on the subjective experience. The therapy demands the recognition of human subjectivity as the true site of their endeavors. "Our subjectivity is our true home, our natural state, and our necessary place of refuge and renewal. It is the font of creativity, the stage for imagination, the drafting table for planning, and the ultimate heart of our fears and hopes, our sorrows and satisfactions" (Bugental, 1992, p.4).
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The result of constant ignorance and the dismissal of the subjective experience as ephemeral and little consequence is the loss of center and self-image (Petitmengin, 2009). For this reason, fundamental change in one's view of life and being alive must focus on seeking into the depth of their subjectivity. The main goal of many individuals who enter psychotherapy is to be able to have the experience of being alive. However, the number of people who eventually achieve this is lamentably small compared to the many who seek psychotherapy. For those who fail, the blame is on both the therapist and the client. Some of the catalysts for the failure include preoccupation with diagnosis, suspicious attitudes, and abstract theories of personality. Eventually, such issues lead to a mechanical, impersonal, and detached attitude, which hinders progress. Thus, the entire process becomes foredoomed. The therapists who assists the client to make their subjective experience the focal point of their sessions takes the patient to new dimensions, into a discovery of their own experiences and subjectivity. Although both objectivity and subjectivity theories are applicable and often go hand in hand, the subjective experience solve most therapeutic questions as it focuses on feelings, emotions, and behaviors
Sarbit (1996) give credit to James Bugental's work by referring to him as the champion of subjectivity. "Subjectivity is the knowing means by which the connection of one's self is deepened. It's the process of unlocking the doors to and exposing one's being. It's the pathway to the fundamental issues of our existence" (p.22). Although many philosophers attempted to tackle the topic of subjectivity, none of them was as successful as James Bugental ( Sarbit , 1996). One of the unique factors about Bugental is that he understood that subjectivity is defined by the willingness to ask the question 'Who am I' as well as using Martin Buber's word, 'Thou' (Sarbit, 1996).
At times, some people would say, "we should avoid encouraging the subjective. People are too subjective now. They just think of themselves and forget that other people have needs and rights also" (Bugental, 1999, p. 156). Such a view, therefore, equates subjectivity to selfishness. The point of view is an ironic mistake that is only popular among those individuals who lack subjective relatedness. Nonetheless, the aspect of selfishness is undeniable as there are a few people who lack regard and recognition for others. However, when one acknowledges and becomes aware of their inner subjective seeking, they develop caring and empathetic feelings towards others. "Significantly for psychotherapy, subjectivity is the closer bank on which must be founded the bridge of relationship to others and the world (Bugental, 1992, p.7). After unlocking the mysteries of existence and discovering our true selves, interactions with each other are made easier. It is this quest for relationships and interactions that make humans seek therapy (Schneider, 2003) . "In our subjectivity, we unearth the concern, both negative and positive, that leads us to undertake therapy. On the one hand, in subjectivity, we may uncover our refusal to become what forces, both internal and external, say we are supposed to be and do. Conversely, we may find the will to shape and become who we are, to create our destinies" (Sarbit, 1996, p. 22-23). When one recognizes both the subjective and objective realms in their life, they start seeing with both eyes (Bugental, 1999). Such individuals see things that others cannot. Human beings who would like to know the meaning of living must learn to dwell in both realms as they discover that in individuality, it is possible to share with others. The objective world is shared, but the subjective experience is personal. Being unaware of both the value and influence of the subjective and the necessity of the objective is considered a handicap that is shared widely (Bugental, 1999).
Unlocking the mysteries of self and the purpose of existence requires a great deal of patience. Unfortunately, many therapists often fall into temptation objectification. Nevertheless, the therapist must resist the urge so that they can picture themselves in the client's therapeutic works. Focusing on the objective theory only drifts the patient and the therapist apart. "All too often, therapists seem to be so attentive to the content of what is being said and to their prior conceptions about clients and needs that they don't notice the distance that exists between themselves and their partners" (Bugental, 1992, p 46).
Bugental, on noticing the scarcity of subjectivity in therapy, proposed a new paradigm that centralizes on the theory. The paradigm acknowledges that human beings are the locus of any knowledge, which is an 'in-here' and not an 'out-there' thing. The 'out-there' aspect is always an inference which must always be accompanied by the 'in-there,' to prevent it from becoming an impartial meaningless statement (Sarbit, 1996). "Whatever we learn from out-there must be qualified by the in-here instrumentality of its discovery" (Bugental, 1992, p.47). The 'out-there' approach should not be abandoned. The emphasis should be on the 'in-there,' the subjectivity, to complement the inadequate 'out-there,' the objectivity, approach. When done well, subjectivity based psychological practices touch humans to their core, leading them to unearth and experience emotions and recognize their values. In addition to that, it erases the pretentious, finds new ways to combat fears, and help people discern how they seek the meaning of their lives.
For effective psychotherapy, the therapists need to be aware of both the subjective and objective experiences. "our human lives have both objective and subjective aspects. Our inner experiencing is the main site of our living. What is solely objective for us has no meaning unless its objective implications are brought into effect in some way" (Bugental, 1999, p. 150). There is a one-eyed view that we live in, which only focuses on the objective aspect. For this reason, the introduction of unfamiliar perspectives about human life (subjectivity) is not likely to be approved, but rather it will earn opprobrium. Although human beings insist that they are objects, the very insistence, at the very least, is subjective (Bugental, 1999). When that reality is recognized, one goes back to their subjectivity, which is a rich, evolving, multidimensional, and fertile realm. The paradox of it all is that while the experience is private and unique in each person, most profound sharing and connecting with others is experienced. The subjective realm is important, but that does not mean a devaluation of the objective. "Preoccupation with the objective manifestly can be erroneous, unwise, even deadly" (Bugental, 1999, p. 154). Subjectivity comes from the recognition of being alive. By asking oneself, what am I? In the quest for asking that question, humans begin to appreciate living.
A good example is an ill person who is on life support. In as much as the doctors will insist, they are alive, the physical state of their bodies tends to differ because machines can only attest that aspect of being alive. Other people may look at such a patient and conclude that they are dead. The equations of life and consciousness are thus made explicit as human lives are in a constant state of awareness. Arguably, without that state of subjective awareness, the only thing imaginable is death. It is in the same reasoning that a life sentence without the possibility of parole seems like a better option than the death penalty. Though both sentences are fatal, the subjective mind makes it look at the latter as a better option. In psychotherapy, therapists use objective cues to help comprehend the explicit words that the client says, and such meanings only reside in the subjective realm. As a client lays out their concerns, the therapist is particularly attentive to how the ideas are being conveyed. It does not mean that what is being said is unimportant. The therapists pay attention to what the client says and how they say it. Doing that eventually helps the client increase the subjective presence. When the patient objectifies themselves in the sessions, the therapist notes down such issues to be addressed later because it is the responsibility to aid a client towards self-recognition and exploration. The key to that is getting the client to present themselves as genuinely as possible. The therapist can also keep pointing back to the underlying intention or emotion. If the patient tends to be detached, the therapist can subtly guide them to their initial intention.
The central aim of existential therapy is heightening subjective awareness (Krug, 2009). The increased effectiveness in self-drive and satisfaction in living is brought about by increased awareness of self in the living moment. For this reason, a person who is aware of self can live in their "truer nature" (Bugental, 1978, p. 114). When it comes to the meaning and the value of working in the here-and-now, Bugental believes that "the healing power of inner awareness requires a therapeutic approach that heightens the client's subjective awareness in the immediate moment" (Bugental, 1999, p. 23). "The process of being aware is itself the creative, growth-evoking process" (Bugental, 1976, p. 289). Genuine presence, therefore, accessing the subjective awareness and expressing what is found there. Consequently, the therapist's presence is mandatory for a successful outcome. However, the therapist should not predetermine the outcome of the sessions but should instead function as a track coach who runs alongside the hurdler, thus helping them maintain their form. As Bugental says, "we are not consultants on how to live…we can be coaches for clients doing their lifework, using their innate capacity" (Bugental, 1999, p.89). Therefore, psychotherapists should serve as guides for the clients to discover themselves and the world they live in but not limit their potential and ability to experience themselves as a subject, not an object. One of the ways that the therapists can do that is by shifting the focus from the client but into the therapeutic relationship. Bugental, however, does not see how shifting the attention to the relationship cultivates and accelerates the healing and growth process (Bugental, 1999) . On the contrary, he views the move as a diversion from the real work rather than facilitating growth. Too much involvement by the therapist "can disrupt the client's immersion in self-exploration" (Bugental, 1978, p. 90). The relationship is not important if it does not central to the healing process. Mutuality, dynamism, vitality, trust, respect, and honesty are the ideal qualities of an existential therapeutic relationship. While the therapist and patient need to understand and maintain their relationship, a specific question should never be asked on the same during the sessions.
The Journey to Subjectivity
Intensive psychotherapy is a unique journey whose destination and the outcome cannot be established at the start. While the therapist must guide the patient to and through the subjective experience, the road to that is long and tedious. Nevertheless, the practice and focus psychotherapy become a personal, life-changing, and subjective experience for all the participants. The client brings pain, anxiety, desperation, and fear. The therapist seeing them for the first time needs to be sensitive, sympathetic, and neutral as this will help the client vent all the emotions. "Yet, it is often important also to help modulate the pouring out of such feelings, lest the client be terrified by too abrupt a catharsis" (Bugental, 1978, p. 24). For this reason, some concerns like the client's personal history or the details of the arrangement of the session should not interrupt the venting process. In as much as the clients come into the sessions full of desperations and anxieties, they also bring hope. The element of hope is often overlooked at the start, but it is a crucial part of the session. The client's hope for themselves is a valuable resource that is drawn from throughout the sessions. The patient seeking help for the anxiety and pain is the first crucial step towards finding the meaning of life, which in turn leads to self-discovery and the element of subjectivity. "one of the first leanings the human being makes is how safe it is to be helpless, and coming for psychotherapy reveals one's helplessness" (Bugental, 1978, p. 26).
Although psychotherapy is the only helpful way towards subjectivity and sense of self, the vulnerabilities, particularly of the client, are often revealed. As the patient prepares for the sessions, there are several concerns that they think of. One often thinks of the fearful secrets that are difficult to reveal, the ones they hope will withstand the professional scrutiny of the therapist. Additionally, the client thinks about some misconceptions about therapy that they have heard. Will the therapist insist on meeting five times? Will the sessions include spousal confrontations that are rather left walled off? How much money and time will the entire process take? Is the therapist someone I can trust with my secrets? The first session is thus, crucial as it will determine the course that other sessions will take. While the client is busy getting some of those questions answered and concerns cleared up, the therapist is finding points of personal identification and uniqueness. The bond eventually forms as both persons begin to engage in a deeper working level. There is a general law to human life where "the person having a genuine life concern, experiencing a true sense of dissatisfaction with his or her way of living and a feeling of possibility for it to be different will act in some fashion to reduce that concern" (Bugental, 1978, p. 48). What this means is that if a person is genuinely anxious about something, they will rectify it. That is the main reason behind [people seeking therapy. Bugental acknowledges that in his writing. "A person comes to psychotherapy because of impaired ability to use latent resources in dealing with the life-changing concern" (Bugental, 1978, p. 49).
There are several blocks to the life-changing capacity use. At times, the client in psychotherapy fails to see all the factors in a situation. In addition to that, they suppress painful issues and avoid confrontation with their concerns. Eventually, this results in them denying themselves full inner awareness. Most of the clients believe that the blocks are what keeps them from being demolished. The defense mechanisms that they develop hinder them from making any positive progress in dealing with life's concerns in therapy (Bugental, 1988). On the bright side, such blocks can be eliminated. "Development of skill in subjective searching is the primary means by which one can overcome the blocks to access to one's resources and thus deal most effectively with life concerns" (Bugental, 1978, p. 51). Inward searching is the key to life concerns on how to explore within one's subjectivity.
Conclusion
Conclusively, subjectivity, and objectivity theories are complimentary. Although more emphasis has always been on the objectivity narrative, theorists like Bugental opens our eyes through his articulate work on subjectivity. Subjectivity focuses on the inner realm, the discovery of self, which dictates how human beings interact with others. An understanding of inner self helps open up to others and the world, thus improving human interrelationships. As noted above, Bugental suggests a new paradigm that centralizes on subjectivity through the combination of the in there and the out-there approach. The paradigm assumes that a person is related to self, others, and the world and that their past is present. In the cultivation of presence, Bugental has a five-dimension presupposition. They include the human essence and existential predicament, the main goal for existential therapy, the meaning of working in the here-and-now, the therapist's role in the focus of attention, and the importance of a healthy therapeutic relationship. In the journey to the subjective experience, the client who brings pain, anxiety, and hope experiences some blocks in psychotherapy like suppression of painful issues and avoiding confrontation of issues. Such blocks are eliminated by developing skills in subjective searching.
References
Bugental, J. F. (1976). The search for existential identity . (p 289) New Jersey: Jossey-Bass.
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Bugental, J. F. (1988). What Is" Failure" In Psychotherapy? Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training , 25 (4), 532.
Bugental, J. F. (1992). The Art of the Psychotherapist . (pp 4-7, 46-47) New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company. Bugental, J. F. (1999). Psychotherapy Isn't What You Think: Bringing the Psychotherapeutic Engagement into The Living Moment . (pp 20, 89, 149-164) Zeig Tucker & Theisen Publishers.
Gendlin, E. T. (1997). Experiencing and The Creation of Meaning: A Philosophical and Psychological Approach to The Subjective . (pp.1-8) Northwestern University Press.
Krug, O. T. (2009). James Bugental And Irvin Yalom: Two Masters of Existential Therapy Cultivate Presence in The Therapeutic Encounter. Journal of Humanistic Psychology , 49 (3), 329-354.
Petitmengin, C. (2009). The Validity of First-Person Descriptions as Authenticity and Coherence. Journal of Consciousness Studies , 16 (10-11), 252-284.
Sarbit, B. (1996). James Bugental: Champion of Subjectivity. Journal of Humanistic Psychology , 36 (4), 19-30.
Schneider, K. J. (2003). Existential-Humanistic Psychotherapies. Essential Psychotherapies: Theory and Practice , 2 , 149-181.
