Psychotherapeutic Eros and the Fifth Ear: Contributions of Carlos Alberto Seguín to Psychotherapy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26439/persona2026.n1.8775Keywords:
Carlos Alberto Seguín Escobedo, psychotherapeutic eros, fifth ear, psychotherapist-patient relationship, communication in psychotherapyAbstract
This article aims to analyze the concepts of “psychotherapeutic Eros” and the “fifth ear”, as developed by Carlos Alberto Seguín Escobedo (1907-1995), and to discuss their relevance to contemporary clinical practice. Seguín was a prominent Peruvian and Latin American psychiatrist, recognized for his scientific contributions and his humanistic view of the human being. He studied medicine in Argentina and subsequently traveled to the United States for specialized training; there, he became a student of—and formed a friendship with—Helen Flanders Dunbar (1902–1959), one of the world’s leading researchers in psychosomatic medicine. Through his work and academic career, he met world-renowned figures such as Anna Freud, Franz Alexander, Carl Jung, and Henry Ey in person. In Peru, he established the first psychiatric service within a general hospital in Latin America and implemented a systematic training program in psychotherapy—something that had not previously existed in the country. Seguín was a humanist by vocation, open to other disciplines that allowed him to explore the depths of the human experience. He produced an extensive body of writing on psychotherapy; this article focuses on two of his books: Love and Psychotherapy and The Fifth Ear. The former addresses the psychotherapist-patient bond, while the latter deals with communication within the therapeutic process. Additionally, the article analyzes how these concepts align with contemporary findings in the field of psychotherapy.
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