I think that middle ground, like much in psychotherapy, is imaginary.
In any event, to the extent talking-therapy works at all I think it's because psychoanalysis secularizes the highly effective psycho-purgative practices that were pioneered and refined by the Catholic Church as confession and absolution. People can get a great sense of relief simply from voicing their greatest fears, frustrations and regrets to another human being. Moreover, I suspect the Catholic Church in its heyday provided more effective psychic-pain relief than psychoanalysis ever has, since the former, it is said, can deliver *divine* forgiveness while the latter can only offer clinical certification that you're not insane.
The trouble is, you have to *believe* in the authority of the priest/analyst for this practice to have any anodyne qualities at all. If you entertain any suspicions the RC church or psychoanalysis is hooey, the magic will not work. Tinker Bell, alas, dies.
The alternative to seeking help from hierarchic relationships with priests and shrinks is to rely on the humble time-honored practice of confiding in friends or partners. If the friendship or partnership is worth anything, this practice is safe, effective and hopefully habit-forming.
Carl
_________________________________________________________________ Picture this – share your photos and you could win big! http://www.GETREALPhotoContest.com?ocid=TXT_TAGHM&loc=us