Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-88).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1999. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [83]-89). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1999. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [83]-89). Also available on the Internet.

The aim of this study is to explicate the concepts transference and countertransference from the psychoanalytic, interpersonal and cybernetic perspectives. Commonalities and differences in definition are described. The notion that transference and countertransference provide the therapist with objective interpersonal information concerning the patient or client system is explored. It is pointed out that whilst, according to the tenets of second-order cybernetics, objective interpersonal information is not possible, transference and countertransference analysis, nevertheless, according to this viewpoint, provide the therapist with a double description. Such a description may influence the therapist's interpretation or understanding of the system at hand and be a component then also of the coconstructed, therapeutic reality of the therapist and patient or client. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Objetivo. Explorar los significados construidos en torno al suicidio en un grupo de psicoterapeutas psicoanalíticos de un centro de formación en Lima. Método. Desde el paradigma cualitativo, se utilizó un diseño fenomenológico en dos etapas. En la primera participaron 54 psicoterapeutas psicoanalíticos y en la segunda se seleccionaron ocho participantes que tuvieran contacto con pacientes con ideaciones o intentos suicidas. Las técnicas de recolección empleadas fueron, para la primera etapa, una ficha de datos y las redes semánticas naturales; y, para la segunda, una entrevista en profundidad. Resultados. Los psicoterapeutas evocaron diversos significados frente al fenómeno del suicidio, los cuales pueden organizarse en tres ejes: el paciente, el psicoterapeuta y su contratransferencia y el tratamiento. Conclusión. Los significados son construidos a partir de las propias experiencias. De esta manera, la contratransferencia se presenta como un concepto psicoanalítico que permite la comprensión de la dinámica entre los pacientes suicidas y los psicoterapeutas, y, a su vez, influye en la creación de significados mutuos. Por su parte, los psicoterapeutas emplean estos significados como una forma de dar sentido y comprender el suicidio. / Objective. To explore the constructed meanings of suicide in a group of psychoanalytic psychotherapists from a formation center in Lima. Method. A phenomenological design from the qualitative model consisting of two stages was used. For the first stage 54 psychoanalytic psychotherapists participated, and for the second stage, 8 participants from the first stage who were involved with patients with suicide ideations and/or attempts were selected. The collecting techniques used were: a data sheet and natural semantic networks for the first stage, and for the second, a detailed interview. Results. The psychotherapists evoke diverse meanings around the suicidal phenomenon, which can be organized into three axis; the patients, the therapist and their countertransference, and the treatment. Conclusion. The meanings are constructed with a foundation of individual experiences, so that countertransference is a psychoanalytical concept that allows for the comprehension of the dynamic between suicidal patients and their therapists, and how it influences the creation of mutual meanings. Likewise, the psychotherapists employ the meanings as a manner of giving significance to and comprehending suicide.

The study examined rape counselling, with particular emphasis on countertransference reactions experienced by the counsellors of rape survivors. Four subjects participated in semi-focused, open-ended interviews, which were taped and transcribed verbatim. The phenomenon of countertransference was discussed, and countertransference reactions identified and examined. The management of empathic strain, in order to sustain empathic inquiry and therapeutic efficacy, was discussed. The main results of the study included the identification of common victim themes, and the feelings evoked in the counsellor in the therapeutic relationship. These included feelings of anger, hopelessness, helplessness and sadness, particularly in the counselling of children, who may be HIV positive as a result of the attack, and victims of chronic abuse. Challenges of rape counselling included shortcomings in the system, and rape myths which trivialize the crime and blame the victim. The need for education and enlightenment of both the public and magistrates on the deleterious effects of rape was emphasized by all subjects.

Objetivo. Explorar los signifi cados construidos en torno al suicidio en un grupo de psicoterapeutas psicoanalíticos de un centro de formación en Lima. Método. Desde el paradigma cualitativo, se utilizó un diseño fenomenológico en dos etapas. En la primera participaron 54 psicoterapeutas psicoanalíticos y en la segunda se seleccionaron ocho participantes que tuvieran contacto con pacientes con ideaciones o intentos suicidas. Las técnicas de recolección empleadas fueron, para la primera etapa, una fi cha de datos y las redes semánticas naturales; y, para la segunda, una entrevista en profundidad. Resultados. Los psicoterapeutas evocaron diversos signifi cados frente al fenómeno del suicidio, los cuales pueden organizarse en tres ejes: el paciente, el psicoterapeuta y su contratransferencia y el tratamiento. Conclusión. Los signifi cados son construidos a partir de las propias experiencias. De esta manera, la contratransferencia se presenta como un concepto psicoanalítico que permite la comprensión de la dinámica entre los pacientes suicidas y los psicoterapeutas, y, a su vez, infl uye en la creación de signifi cados mutuos. Por su parte, los psicoterapeutas emplean estos signifi cados como una forma de dar sentido y comprender el suicidio. / Objective. To explore the constructed meanings of suicide in a group of psychoanalytic psychotherapists from a formation center in Lima. Method. A phenomenological design from the qualitative model consisting of two stages was used. For the fi rst stage 54 psychoanalytic psychotherapists participated, and for the second stage, 8 participants from the fi rst stage who were involved with patients with suicide ideations and/or attempts were selected. The collecting techniques used were: a data sheet and natural semantic networks for the fi rst stage, and for the second, a detailed interview. Results. The psychotherapists evoke diverse meanings around the suicidal phenomenon, which can be organized into three axis; the patients, the therapist and their countertransference, and the treatment. Conclusion. The meanings are constructed with a foundation of individual experiences, so that countertransference is a psychoanalytical concept that allows for the comprehension of the dynamic between suicidal patients and their therapists, and how it infl uences the creation of mutual meanings. Likewise, the psychotherapists employ the meanings as a manner of giving signifi cance to and comprehending suicide. Keywords. Suicide, psychotherapy, countertransference.

No description available.

Psychoanalysis as it exists today is not constituted by a single theoretical framework describing pathology and indicating a specific set of interventions. Since Freud originally conceptualised psychoanalytic understanding of pathology and psychoanalysis as a mode of intervention, there have been many revisions and reformulations of his theory. This thesis has attempted to integrate some psychoanalytic ideas regarding personality formation, psychopathology and psychotherapeutic intervention (Fairbairn, 1952; Ogden, 1992, 1994), with interpersonal (strategic / structural) ideas regarding intervention (Minuchin, 1974; Sullivan, 1940, 1953, 1964). In order to do so, the thesis used the relational psychoanalytic perspective, as depicted by Aron (1996) and Mitchell and Aron (1999), as an overarching conceptual framework. The focus from these points of view is the patient's internalized relationship patterns and the therapist's participation in their repetition. It is held that internalized relationship patterns are not only based on, but can be changed by, lived experience. From this perspective, the goal of therapy is to enhance the patient's capacity to reflect and think about experience, and therefore, to communicate about it. This means a change in the patient's predominant mode of communication. Ogden's (1994) modes of communication were described. The thesis suggested that Ogden's modes of communication can be stretched or translated into the types of communication outlined by Langs (1978). This thesis aimed to explore the deliberate use of countertransference responses to facilitate communication in the beginning stages of therapy with patients functioning predominantly in the paranoid-schizoid mode (Ogden, 1992). Patients who operate in this mode are often unable to tolerate interpretation and therefore traditional approaches to intervention are not effective. A "strategic / structural relational psychoanalytic" approach to treatment was proposed. It was suggested that therapists utilize joining and accommodation techniques as described by Minuchin (1974) and alter their style of interaction to match that of the various object relational constellations that they have managed to identify within the patient via their countertransference responses. It was hypothesized that patients need their therapists to be similar to their original objects in order to feel safe in the therapeutic environment and that this may facilitate communication in the beginning stages of therapy. The research utilized a qualitative research approach. Qualitative research methods attempt to use data gathered phenomenologically, always acknowledging the researcher's biases when gathering the data. The data gathered is then interpreted according to various theories or hermeneutic lenses. The hypothesis mentioned above has been investigated by analyzing three cases in terms of the research questions based on Langs' (1978) classification of communication. The thesis described the difficulties inherent in collecting clinical data from psychologists working from within a psychoanalytic framework. Eventually three sets of therapy details and verbatim therapy transcripts were obtained, provided in the thesis and analyzed in terms of the research questions. However evidence for the success of the hypothesized alternate approach was not found in this research study. It was suggested that other possible methods might be useful to investigate the hypothesized approach further.

This study aimed to explore the countertransference responses of psychoanalytically informed psychotherapists working with religious patients. By elucidating the various responses that devout patients may provoke in psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapists, it also sought to investigate how differences in religious orientation - which referred to atheistic, agnostic, theistic, or a combination of these metaphysical views – between patient and therapist may influence the nature of psychoanalytically informed psychotherapists’ countertransference responses to their religious patients. Thirdly, it endeavored to understand how psychoanalytically informed psychotherapists manage religiously influenced countertransference responses. A sample of six psychoanalytically informed psychotherapists participated in a self developed, semi-structured interview. A thematic content analysis of the psychotherapists’ interview transcripts revealed that the therapists’ countertransference responses to their religious patients were broadly negative, and primarily took the form of feelings of paralysis and frustration. Concerning the extent to which the therapists perceived that differences in religious orientation between themselves and their patients influenced the nature of their countertransference reactions, a key finding was that, while the theistic therapists generally noted these responses, the agnostic therapists seemed to give more attention to them during the interviews, while reflecting on the extent to which their agnosticism may partially account for the intensity of their countertransference paralysis and frustration. Most of the agnostic therapists, moreover, were able to identify early personal experiences that may have contributed to these responses. Thirdly, regarding the management of these countertransference responses, all the therapists alluded to the significance of supervision, colleagues and their own therapy. It was also found that the therapists’ countertransference reactions to their religious patients were partly a consequence of the therapists’ perspectives on what constitutes healthy and pathological religion, and perceived similarities between certain religio-mystical concepts and aspects of psychoanalytic thought. The study elucidates the complex interaction between various factors that conceivably influence the nature of psychoanalytic psychotherapists’ countertransference reactions to religious patients, as well as the necessity for therapist self-awareness when working with religious patients, with the broader aim of offering an example of an increasingly applied and relevant form of psychoanalytic praxis in a country with a diverse and inherently religious population.