Silent Disclosures and Other Subjective Excursions—Theoretical and Clinical Considerations with Steven Kuchuck, Ph.D.
Paper 1: When the Personal Becomes Professional: Clinical Implications of the Psychoanalyst’s Subjectivity
In this paper, Steven Kuchuck explores the impact of the psychoanalyst’s life experience and psychological make-up on the treatment. By expanding psychoanalytic study beyond theory and technique to include an examination of events in the clinician’s childhood and adult life as well as related psychodynamic issues, the presenter focuses on ways in which these experiences, crises, and dynamics affect both clinical choices and the therapist’s overall presence in the consulting room. Related, he looks at the relationship between the clinician’s subjectivity, theoretical interests, and technique, and explores areas of overlap and differentiation between two phenomena that are often confused; the larger issue of the therapist’s subjectivity, and self-disclosure. Tracking and using subjectivity in order to further the therapeutic action will also be discussed.
Paper 2: Say You, Say Me*—Confusing Our Objects, Naturally
Cathy had just landed and arrived for her session exhausted. Depleted and in distress; “I know I won’t get to see him or hear his voice again. I could barely say goodbye, knowing that”. Tears fill her eyes and I feel a similar press against my own lids as my mind begins to wander...
This paper will explore work with a patient traumatized by toxic, fragile objects, in treatment with an analyst similarly impacted by parental fragility. One moment in particular will be considered, a period of existential crisis for both parties in which events overlapped, finality hovered, and confusion enveloped the dyad. (*Lionel Richie, 1986)
Learning Objectives
1. Give one example from their own practice of how an aspect of their own subjectivity either impeded or facilitated the therapeutic action.
2. dentify at least one example from their clinical practice of a situation in which patient and therapist boundaries weakened and subject and object became confused.
3. List 2-3 reasons why it is important to track their subjective responses to patients.
Dr. Steven Kuchuck is former Editor-in-Chief of Psychoanalytic Perspectives, where he currently serves as Senior Consulting Editor, Past President of IARPP, faculty, NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, NIP National Training Program, and other institutes. His recent book, The Relational Revolution in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, is currently being translated into numerous languages. He won the Gradiva award for best book of 2015; Clinical Implications of the Psychoanalyst’s Life Experience and 2016; The Legacy of Sandor Ferenczi: From Ghost to Ancestor (co-edited with Adrienne Harris). His latest book, Diary of a Fallen Psychoanalyst: The Work Books of Masud Khan (co-edited with Linda Hopkins) is published by Karnac Books.