What is it about?
This chapter addresses the question of whether psychoanalysis remains relevant as a therapeutic modality. I offer a critique of the traditional psychoanalytic method, arguing that it is fundamentally too narcissistic—overly preoccupied with cultivating the patient's subjectivity or self at the expense of supporting their actual interpersonal relationships. In its place, I propose dynamic psychotherapy as an alternative framework that actively strives toward a non-narcissistic clinical stance.
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Why is it important?
This chapter serves as a crucial bridge between theoretical critique and clinical practice by outlining the tenets of a non-narcissistic dynamic psychotherapy. Its significance lies in demonstrating how depth therapy can actively encourage real-world interpersonal relationships rather than solely cultivating the self. Crucially, the chapter reclaims the capacity to view the patient as a separate, independent entity, arguing that it is both possible and necessary to diagnose the patient objectively—independent of the immediate therapeutic relationship in which they are situated. By offering this balanced framework, the chapter provides a vital roadmap for the future of dynamic therapy, proving that clinical depth and diagnostic clarity can coexist with a profound commitment to the patient's external relational world.
Perspectives
For me, this chapter establishes the foundational framework that I intend to expand upon in my future works.
Orna Afek
Tamuz Institute
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Reflections on the current status of psychoanalysis as a therapeutic method, January 2025, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.4324/9781003538295-8.
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