Routledge Taboo or Not Taboo?: Forbidden Thoughts, Forbidden Acts in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy (The Developments in Psychoanalysis Series)

Psychoanalysis has, from its inception, been a discipline concerned with overcoming the ill effects of certain social taboos. Given this focus, it might be assumed that psychoanalysis and its practitioners are free of the constraints imposed by restrictive taboos. This book challenges this idea by examining a sampling of the taboos that are rife in the field. It is not intended to offer a complete summary of all of the forbidden ideas, clinical procedures, behaviors and institutional practices in psychoanalysis, but rather to raise consciousness about the fact that even within a field which encourages freedom of expression, many issues remain difficult to fully discuss both in the consulting room and in professional discourse. The book provides a refreshing, thoughtful, honest look at many of the taboos present in psychoanalysis, even at this moment of greatly improved communication between the various theoretical schools in the field. Reading it provides a sense of freedom for the reader, as speaking of forbidden thoughts always does. Review "The editors have selected authors who courageously tackle taboo topics by boldly articulating issues that cry out for candid self-examination. The result is a stimulating, nuanced consideration of inhibitions in exploring such matters as money ( eg: holding onto patients for economic reasons, accepting cash payments), sexual arousal in the transference-countertransference, expressions of tenderness, the use of non-sexual touch, spirituality, telepathy, varieties of self-disclosure, deviations from the traditional analytic frame, age-related cognitive decline in the analyst, theoretical 'heresy', and other topics that typically are avoided in psychoanalytic training institutes. Clinicians of all schools and levels of experience will derive considerable benefit from this excellent book."--David L. Wolitzky, Ph.D, Supervisor "This book is a living paradox. A taboo is something we should avoid talking about, yet here any sort of taboo is openly described and discussed in detail. Sex, money, spirituality, ageing and the analyst's need to retire, what analysts say to one another behind closed doors about their practice, the analyst's self-disclosures and enactments, to touch or not to touch a patient--these are some of the issues this book deals with, and the authors of the various chapters are among the most distinguished scholars in the field. Really a book worth reading."--Paolo Migone, M.D., Editor About the Author Lori C Bohm