Paper Session C
2. Optimal Responsiveness in the
Therapeutic Process
Presenter: |
Lester Lenoff, MSW |
Discussant: |
Kenneth Newman, MD |
Self Psychology Page | 23rd Conference Program
Overview
At the 1998 International Conference in San Diego, Howard Bacal outlined the fundamental propositions of Optimal Responsiveness, which included a broad repertoire of responsivity in the context of a reciprocal clinical engagement . In this paper, I call upon Bacal's fundamental propositions, along with other recent innovations in self psychological clinical theory - Marty Livingston's concept of vulnerable moments, Marian Tolpin's priority of focus on the forward edge of the patient's transference and Anna Ornstein's definition of structure as psychological capacity - to describe a passage of ongoing treatment and to illustrate the usefulness of Optimal Responsiveness as a basis for a flexible, yet distinctively Self Psychological, clinical approach.