What do we hope our patients have developed at the end of a “good enough” psychoanalysis? Our basic theory suggests that the more unconscious elements we can bring into awareness, the less likely the pull of their manifestations in action will occur. There is, of course, a great deal of merit in this perspective. However, there is another perspective to be considered, which is the process of knowing is as important as what is known. What is accomplished in a relatively successful psychoanalysis is a way of knowing and not simply knowing. In this paper I suggest that analyzing with heightened awareness to process knowledge is crucial for the patients’ capacity for self-analysis, and differs from helping patients primarily gain knowledge of their unconscious fantasies and conflicts as the primary curative factor in psychoanalysis.
Learning Objectives
1. To understand how process knowledge leads to a psychoanalytic mind.
2. To make the distinction between “process” knowledge and “state” knowledge.
3. To reflect on what working with the process in the “here and now” means.
References
1. Busch, F. (2007). ‘I Noticed’: The Emergence of Self-Observation in Relationship to Pathological Attractor Sites. Int. J. Psycho-Anal., 88:423-441.
2. Feldman, M. (2007). The Illumination of History. Int. J. Psycho-Anal., 88:609-625.
3. Sugarman, A. (2006). Mentalization, Insightfulness, and Therapeutic Action. Int. J. Psycho-Anal., 87:965-987.
PEP-Web at http://www.pep-web.org/document.php?id=ijp.087.0965a
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Physicians This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of the American Psychoanalytic Association and the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians and takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity. The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 hours in category 1 credit towards the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity. IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION FOR ALL LEARNERS: None of the planners and presenters of this CME program have any relevant financial relationships to disclose. Psychologists The Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This program fulfills the requirements for 1.5 hours of CE. Social Workers Please contact the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute’s Administrative Office at 617/266-0953 or office@bostonpsychoanalytic.org for more information.
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