Playing and Vitality in Psychoanalysis

Civitarese and Ferro's book explores how psychoanalysis can be a practice aimed at opening up and liberating the mind, with detailed engagement with the work of Bion and Ogden and insights from their own expertise. It will appeal to psychoanalysts, psychoanalytic therapists, and postgraduate students hoping to make more room in the psychoanalytic lexicon for words like pleasure, dreaming, creativity, hospitality, and growth.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 194 pages
Publication date: 08 July 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Civitarese and Ferro, two esteemed figures in the field of psychoanalysis, have collaborated for an extensive period, producing a collection of thought-provoking writings that are enriched with extensive clinical material. Their shared interpretation of psychoanalysis extends beyond its traditional role as a treatment for psychic suffering, recognizing it as a inherently pleasurable and vitalizing experience. Through their engaging chapters, which delve into inclinations, fantasies, and obsessions that are both shared and personal, the authors demonstrate how psychoanalysis can be approached as a practice that aims to open up and liberate the mind.

By engaging with a diverse range of topics, including dreams, ethics, emotions, and aesthetics, the authors showcase how psychoanalysis can transcend moralistic or ideological constraints. They provide a detailed exploration of the work of Bion and Ogden, drawing upon their substantial expertise to shed light on how the concepts of playing and vitality can inform and transform clinical psychoanalytic practice.

This book appeals to a wide audience, including psychoanalysts, psychoanalytic therapists, and postgraduate students, who are seeking to expand the psychoanalytic lexicon to encompass words such as pleasure, dreaming, creativity, hospitality, and growth. With its rich clinical material and strong theoretical foundation, this book offers valuable insights and perspectives that will enrich the understanding and practice of psychoanalysis.

Weight: 326g
Dimension: 234 x 155 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032245058