Presenter: |
Arnold W. Rachman, PhD |
Chair: |
Harvey M. Freed, MD |
Discussant: |
Dorienne Sorter, PhD |
Self Psychology Page | 20th Conference Program
Summary
Heinz Kohut, although his clinical therapeutics were fundamentally conservative, left a theoretical legacy and an ethos of therapeutic action. In particular
Kohut suggested that structure building can occur, not only through interpretative behavior, but through reparative selfobject experiences. In his last book, How Does Psychoanalysis Cure?, he gave indications, that therapeutic action was curative. In particular, this author believes he experimented informally with analyst self-disclosure.
Sándor Ferenczi ideas and techniques, I believe are the original precursors for the self psychological framework. Ferenczi's Confusion of Tongues concept delineates a theory of trauma based on empathic failures due to unauthentic interaction in the family of origin. The same dynamics for trauma can also exist in the interaction of the psychoanalytic situation.
Analyst self-disclosure is a significant dimension to the curative process of the Confusion of Tongues. Judicious self-disclosure is a contemporary clinical activity illustrated by examples from analytic process, which attempts to structure building through reparative selfobject experiences.