Book description
This book introduces the clinical concept of analytic contact. This is
a term that describes the therapeutic method of investigation that makes
up psychoanalytic treatment. The field has been in debate for decades
regarding what constitutes psychoanalysis. This usually centers on
theoretical ideals regarding analyzability, goals, or procedure and
external criteria such as frequency or use of couch. Instead, the
concept of analytic contact looks at what takes place with a patient in
the clinical situation. Each chapter in this book follows a wide
spectrum of cases and clinical situations where hard to reach patients
are provided the best opportunity for health and healing through the
establishment of analytic contact. This case material closely tracks
each patient's phantasies, and transference mechanisms which work to
either increase, oppose, embrace, or neutralize, analytic contact. In
addition, the fundamental internal conflicts all patients struggle with
between love, hate, and knowledge are represented by extensive case
reports.
