Training in clinical psychology Notes on the history of coexistence

Abstract

Coexistence and the competence to coexist are central to clinical psychological training and interventions aimed at developing the individual-context relationship. This article presents notes on the historical development of this construct, tracing its roots through the works of several philosophers, primarily Plato and Spinoza, and their conceptions of reality and the construction of social identity. Clinical psychology could establish its legitimacy on this tradition. Despite the evolution of psychology into an autonomous discipline, a mythology supporting its specificity in fostering social coexistence is lacking. While well-established mythologies of care underpin various psychotherapeutic orientations, the absence of a recognized cultural tradition oriented toward coexistence limits the training of psychologists, making it challenging to acknowledge their social and professional roles in contemporary society.