Abstract
Book Reviews
Topics in Psychoanalysis: Theoretical and Clinical Considerations
In his review of Coming to Life in the Consulting Room: Toward a New Analytic Sensibility by Thomas Ogden, Jules Kerman highlights Ogden’s profound departure from traditional psychoanalytic approaches. Kerman acknowledges Ogden’s skill in synthesizing Winnicott’s and Bion’s concepts to propose a transformative paradigm shift in analytic practice. He commends Ogden for emphasizing the importance of attunement to the patient’s immediate emotional experience over interpretation of unconscious fantasies. Kerman notes Ogden’s insistence on spontaneity and genuine engagement in the therapeutic process, rejecting rigid technique in favor of a nuanced, responsive approach. Overall, Kerman lauds Ogden’s book for its invitation to explore the ineffable aspects of subjective experience and its transformative vision of human understanding and growth within the analytic encounter.
In her review of Howard Levine’s Affect, Representation and Language: Between the Silence and the Cry, Michelle Flax highlights Levine’s profound reorientation of psychoanalytic practice, shifting focus from uncovering neurotic conflicts to nurturing the capacity for non-neurotic states of mind. Drawing on a wealth of psychoanalytic thought, Levine emphasizes the significance of psychic representation, particularly in patients with developmental trauma. He challenges traditional approaches by advocating for the construction of psychic structure in patients with weak or absent representation. Central to Levine’s thesis is the concept of trauma, which disrupts the psyche’s ability to represent experiences, leading to symptoms like affect storms and somatic illness. Flax notes Levine’s integration of various psychoanalytic theories and his personal reflections, underscoring the importance of intersubjective engagement in the therapeutic process. Flax lauds Levine’s book as a significant contribution to the field, urging readers to explore its insights into the complexities of psychoanalytic practice with diverse patient populations.
In his review of Self-Supervision: Psychodynamic Strategies by Mark Lubin and Jed Yalof, Ira Brenner, MD, emphasizes the book’s nuanced approach to self-supervision within the psychoanalytic framework. Contrary to its title’s implication, the manual doesn’t aim to replace traditional supervision but rather complements it by offering strategies for psychology graduate students when direct supervision may be unavailable. Drawing from classical psychoanalytic models, the authors underscore the importance of reflexivity, akin to the observing ego, in self-supervision. Brenner illustrates the significance of this topic through historical anecdotes, notably Freud’s own struggles with self-analysis and supervision. While acknowledging the book’s limitations in addressing complex interpersonal and institutional dynamics, Brenner lauds it as a valuable teaching tool for fostering self-supervisory skills among aspiring clinicians.
Perspectives in Psychoanalytic Thought
Forrest Hamer provides a thoughtful review of Donald Moss’s Psychoanalysis in a Plague Year, emphasizing the unique intersection of psychoanalysis, poetry, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Moss’s collection of poems reflects his experience as an analyst during the crisis, capturing the anxieties, disruptions, and existential questions faced by both patients and analysts alike. Through the poetic lens, Moss explores the intricacies of human subjectivity amid a global health crisis, offering insight into the therapeutic process and the role of language in navigating collective trauma. Hamer reflects on the significance of Moss’s poetic approach, suggesting that it provides a means to delve deeper into the complexities of the human psyche and the challenges of understanding and processing unprecedented events.
Brett Kahr provides an enthusiastic review of Salman Akhtar’s Tales of Transformation: A Life in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, highlighting Akhtar’s remarkable career and the captivating nature of his memoir. Akhtar’s narrative, spanning 101 chapters, offers insight into his journey from India to the United States, his training in psychiatry and psychoanalysis, and his encounters with notable figures in the field. Kahr commends Akhtar’s candid and engaging writing style, which seamlessly blends clinical wisdom with personal anecdotes and touches on various topics, including disability, loss, and professional growth.
Psychoanalytic Approaches to Child, Adolescent, and Parent Treatment
Dr. Theodore Murray discusses the scarcity of accessible resources in child therapy that effectively combine psychodynamic and developmental perspectives, emphasizing the need for comprehensive texts relevant to contemporary clinical practice. He evaluates Blackman and Ding’s Developmental Evaluation of Children and Adolescents: A Psychodynamic Guide, commending its clear language and structured approach to applying psychodynamic concepts in clinical settings. However, Murray critiques the text for its occasional reliance on categorical assertions, urging for a more nuanced consideration of diverse perspectives and contextual factors in clinical assessment and treatment planning. Ultimately, he suggests that while valuable, such texts should be approached critically, acknowledging their strengths and limitations in guiding modern clinical practice.
Kerry Kelly Novick offers a comprehensive review of Working With Parents in Therapy: A Mentalization-Based Approach by Malberg, Jurist, Bate, and Dangerfield, acknowledging its ambitious scope in integrating clinical and research perspectives on parenting. Novick appreciates the authors’ emphasis on addressing parenting issues as crucial for breaking intergenerational cycles of pathology. However, Novick raises questions about the book’s exclusive reliance on interdisciplinary developmental literature over established psychoanalytic concepts, potentially overlooking valuable insights. Despite this concern, Novick acknowledges the book’s strengths in providing clinical examples and promoting a relational approach to parent work. The review encourages readers to reflect on the broader implications of theory construction and the integration of diverse theoretical models across cultures.
Why I Write
In “From the Dot to the Line—Drawing a Thread Out and Writing It Through,” Jennifer Davids reflects on her writing process, drawing parallels between drawing and writing as forms of expression. She begins with quotes from Paul Klee and William Kentridge, emphasizing the journey from a simple mark to a complex creation, much like a dot becoming a line. Davids describes her struggle to translate her visual thinking into written language, feeling a sense of loss in the transition. Despite the challenges, she finds pleasure and discovery in the act of writing, viewing it as a form of dialogue with herself and others. Writing allows her to play with ideas, explore her experiences, and broaden her perspective. Davids acknowledges the anxieties that accompany writing, from gestational anxieties to postpublication blues, but ultimately sees writing as a way of contributing to the psychoanalytic literature by leaving her mark.
What I Am Reading
In “From Zero to One: The Birth of Parents,” Dr. Gretchen Hermes delves into the complexities of parenthood through an exploration of modern fictional works and ancient art. Reflecting on Colm Tóibín’s Testament of Mary and J. M. Coetzee’s The Jesus Trilogy, Hermes draws parallels between the portrayal of parental anguish in these narratives and the timeless image of Mary depicted in ancient art. Through Tóibín’s depiction of Mary’s disillusionment and Coetzee’s portrayal of parental responsibility in the face of uncertainty, Hermes highlights the profound challenges and redemptive potential of parenthood. She underscores the transformative power of love and resilience as parents navigate the journey from zero to one, from uncertainty to the profound responsibility of nurturing life, despite the inexplicable bitterness and tragedy they may encounter.
