Seeking a balance between knowing and not knowing in the consulting room
Part of : Hellenic journal of psychology ; Vol.6, No.3, 2009, pages 334-347
Issue:
Pages:
334-347
Author:
Abstract:
Psychoanalysis has been based upon a theory that suggests that those properlytrained become able to know some of what is in the unconscious minds of their patients, whichthe patients themselves cannot know. But the power differential in this can lead to problems.It is all too easy for the link between theory and interpretation to become circular and selfproving.I therefore maintain that it is sometimes important to stay with not knowing forlonger than in some analyses, in order to remain open to meanings that could be more relevantto the individual patient, rather than treating similar patients as if they were more nearlythe same. It then becomes important that we also learn to differentiate between those timeswhen not knowing is appropriate from others when it is a firmer sense of knowing that is necessary.I try to indicate something of the balance between knowing and not knowing that Ibelieve to be a skill that all analysts need to develop.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
certainly, non-certainly, psychoanalysis
Notes:
Περιέχει βιβλιογραφία, Special issue: Current issues in psychotherapy
