Routledge Moments of Meeting in Psychoanalysis: Interaction and Change in the Therapeutic Encounter (Relational Perspectives Book Series)

There are moments of connection between analysts and patients during any therapeutic encounter upon which the therapy can turn. Moments of Meeting in Psychoanalysis explores how analysts and therapists can experience these moments of meeting, shows how this interaction can become an enlivening and creative process, and seeks to recognise how it can change both the analyst and patient in profound and fundamental ways. The theory and practice of contemporary psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy has reached an exciting new moment of generous and generative interaction. As psychoanalysts become more intersubjective and relational in their work, it becomes increasingly critical that they develop approaches that have the capacity to harness and understand powerful moments of meeting, capable of propelling change through the therapeutic relationship. Often these are surprising human moments in which both client and clinician are moved and transformed. Moments of Meeting in Psychoanalysis offers a window into the ways in which some of today’s practitioners think about, encourage, and work with these moments of meeting in their practices. Each chapter of the book offers theoretical material, case examples, and a discussion of various therapists’ reflections on and experiences with these moments of meeting. With contributions from relational psychoanalysts, psychotherapists and Jungian analysts, and covering essential topics such as shame, impasse, mindfulness, and group work, this book offers new theoretical thinking and practical clinical guidance on how best to work with moments of meeting in any relationally oriented therapeutic practice. Moments of Meeting in Psychoanalysis will be of great interest to psychoanalysts, psychoanalytic psychotherapists, psychologists, social workers, workers in other mental health fields, graduate students, and anyone interested in change processes. Review "Moments of Meeting in Psychoanalysis is a stunningly rich collection of relational essays that challenge what cures: by naming the core of change as located in the therapist's subjectivity, the therapist's necessary authenticity, the capacity for bearing the unbearable, all of which result in healing. In a coherent and well chosen volume, Moments of Meeting beautifully illustrates how clinicians can bear affects of shame, suffering, pain, even dying and includes other modalities such as mindfulness, internal family systems and brief treatment. Infant research, Jungian theories, and contemporary psychodynamic relational theorists are well represented in a well edited, thoughtful collection of essays that are historically organized and clinically alive. This is a book for beginners and advanced practitioners which adds to our knowledge of the most contemporary intersubjective theories and practice."-Dr. Joan Berzoff, Ed.D., Professor Emerita, Smith College School for Social Work. This book addresses through a panoply of finely tuned chapters the "hottest" topic in psychoanalysis today―what creates transformative moments in the psychoanalytic encounter. These authors, ranging from Jungian, relational and self psychological, offer theory that is especially punctuated with numerous clinical examples of "moments of meeting" in which patient and analyst profoundly, movingly connect on human themes and existential issues that become the fulcrum for change between and within both participants. The telling and close study of these illustrations contributes further to our understanding and delineation of these transformative moments. This volume is illuminating reading for psychoanalytic-oriented practitioners that will be greatly appreciated from the beginner to the seasoned professional."-James L. Fosshage, Ph.D., Founding President of the International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology; Co-founder, Board Director, Faculty and Supervisor, National Institute for the Psychotherapies (NYC); Founding Facult