Routledge Reflections on Long-Term Relational Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis: Relational Analysis Interminable

Reflections on Long-Term Relational Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis explores how relational analysts think about and pursue long-term therapeutic relationships in their practices. Many therapists work intensively with their clients over many years and don't necessarily talk about their work. More exploration is needed into what is taking place inside of these long-term relationships. The chapters cover a range of topics that focus on aspects of the therapeutic relationship that are unique to long-term psychoanalytic work. They include work with various issues such as trauma, death and dying, cross-cultural issues, suffering, mourning, neuropsychoanalysis, unique endings, attachment, intimacy, and the many ways in which therapists change along with their clients as they go through life stages together. Reflections on Long-Term Relational Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis will be of great interest to psychoanalysts, psychodynamic psychotherapists, psychologists, social workers, workers in other mental health fields, graduate students, and anyone who is interested in change processes. Review "Susan Lord has done it again- this time pulling together a riveting collection of intimate "stories from inside long-term treatment" written by a wide-ranging group of gifted "relational" clinicians: a group that is diversified with respect to training and orientation but that shares a common bond, namely, a passion for cutting deep and broad; infinite compassion and heart; tremendous courage and determination; strong belief in the transformative power of "mutuality" and "relationship"; keen ability to negotiate therapeutic impasses; indestructibility and capacity to survive relational turbulence; and unwavering faith in the psychotherapeutic process as a means of effecting enduring and characterological change. Lord, who clearly holds "moments of authentic meeting" as central to the work of healing old wounds and facilitating the emergence of new possibilities, is offering readers (whatever their level of expertise or therapeutic approach) the rare opportunity of peeking into the sacrosanct chambers of experienced clinicians who are daring to reveal tender, loving, and vulnerable details about how they enable clients to triumph over their internal demons and realize their potential. In response to the frequently asked question, "How long will this take?" I have often found myself responding, "It depends upon how ambitious we are." The beautifully and compellingly crafted narratives in this generous and tender volume certainly speak to the reality that if client and therapist dare to dream big and aim high, then the sky is truly the limit; the vignettes reinforce the idea that "you should shoot for the moon because, if you miss, you’ll still land among the stars." Bravo to the thirteen therapists who first gave their hearts to their clients and are now giving their hearts to us. Thank you, Dr. Lord."-Martha Stark, MD, Faculty, Harvard Medical School; Co-Founder/Co-Director/ Faculty, Center for Psychoanalytic Studies; award-winning author of 7 Books including Relentless Hope: The Refusal to Grieve "This edited collection makes an important contribution to the literature on longer-term analytic treatments. Susan Lord has invited an interesting group of authors who grapple with the knotty question of "How long is ‘enough’ treatment? These authors make the solid case that developmental relational traumas leave deep lasting internal injuries that may require longer-term treatments. Threaded through the chapters are case examples demonstrating the hallmarks of effective relational treatment: empathy, recognition, authenticity, attunement and the complexities of attachment ruptures and repair within the context of trauma histories. This book should become required reading for those in mental health training and for practitioners in the field."-Jill Salberg, Ph.D., ABPP, clinical associate professor and clinica