Knowing What Psychoanalysts Do and Doing What Psychoanalysts Know

This book explores the practical aspects of psychoanalysis through the analysis of sixteen clinical cases. It proposes a new theoretical framework that encompasses various approaches to the analytic situation, sources of data, and communication strategies. The framework consists of eleven practical questions for psychoanalysts to consider in their sessions, aiming to assist experienced practitioners and students in refining their approach.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 21 February 2024
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

This comprehensive book, rooted in an in-depth exploration of sixteen clinical cases of psychoanalysis, aims to shed light on the enigmatic question of what psychoanalysts engage in when practicing this therapeutic approach. The authors, in collaboration with a vast network of over a thousand colleagues from across the globe, have painstakingly assembled a unique dataset of everyday clinical sessions through a novel workshop discussion method specifically designed to unveil distinctions. Navigating a diverse landscape while seeking to embrace and comprehend rather than suppress it, they were compelled to develop a novel theoretical framework. This framework encompasses diverse perspectives on the analytic situation, employing metaphors, cinema, dramatic monologue, theatre, and immersive theatre as tools to gain insights into the unconscious. It also delves into various sources of data to infer unconscious content, explores the unique troubles patients unconsciously grapple with, and offers guidance on how to approach them effectively.

Over time, this framework evolved into a set of eleven practical questions that psychoanalysts can ask themselves during each session they conduct. These questions serve as a valuable guide for both experienced psychoanalysts and aspiring students, aiding them in determining their desired goals and assessing their progress in achieving them. In a final chapter, the authors apply the new framework and these practical questions to address contemporary technical controversies, yielding surprising and thought-provoking outcomes.

This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in delving deeper into the realm of psychoanalysis, offering a wealth of insights and practical tools for both practitioners and scholars alike.

Weight: 821g
Dimension: 262 x 183 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538188095