Testimony and Witnessing in Psychoanalysis: A Literary and Philosophical Perspective

Zipi Rosenberg Schipper approaches testimony as a distinct and vital function in psychoanalytic work,separate from its inherited importance to work on trauma. She introduces a philosophical,linguistic, and psychoanalytic approach to the act of testimony, focusing on the role of witnessing in daily life and its importance as a therapeutic tool in psychoanalytic and psychological therapy. She highlights three key psychoanalytic theories on patient testimony and concludes by looking at the Intersubjective and Relational schools of thought, where the therapist assumes the role of witness.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 146 pages
Publication date: 01 December 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In this captivating volume,Zipi Rosenberg Schipper delves into the profound realm of testimony, seeking to acknowledge its distinct and indispensable role in psychoanalytic work, distinct from its inherited significance in addressing trauma. Rosenberg Schipper presents a revitalizing philosophical, linguistic, and psychoanalytic perspective on the act of testimony, emphasizing the role of witnessing in everyday life and its profound importance as a therapeutic tool in psychoanalytic and psychological therapy. Throughout, she highlights three key psychoanalytic theories on patient testimony. She begins by exploring Freud's foundational work on testimony as a means of concealing the unconscious and the challenges of credibility in the consulting room, which it creates. She then delves into Winnicottian and Kohutian theories, where therapists consider every word the patient utters as a definitive truth. Finally, she examines the Intersubjective and Relational schools of thought, where the therapist assumes the role of witness.

By offering a comprehensive exploration of the diverse theories surrounding testimony, Rosenberg Schipper equips practicing psychoanalysts and analysts-in-training with the essential tools to effectively utilize this vital therapeutic device and incorporate it into their treatment approaches for all patients.

Weight: 262g
Dimension: 155 x 235 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032517803