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From selfobjects to dialogue: a journey through the intersubjective field.
1Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles, California, USA. Lmjacobs@mac.com
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|April 22, 2009
Summary
The intersubjective field concept enhances therapist-patient dialogue, fostering mutual understanding. Embracing therapist subjectivity can be transformative for emotionally alienated patients.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychoanalysis
Background:
- The intersubjective field concept offers a framework for understanding the relational dynamics in therapy.
- A dialogical attitude is crucial for therapists to grasp patient experiences within the shared context.
Observation:
- Patients often seek a more complex engagement with their analyst, beyond repetitive roles or developmental needs.
- Therapists' engagement with their own subjectivity is key to facilitating this deeper connection.
Findings:
- The therapist's dialogue aims to make sense of patient experiences, even when challenging.
- Welcoming patients into the therapist's experiential world can restore dignity to those with emotional alienation.
Implications:
- This approach can transform the therapeutic relationship, promoting deeper patient understanding and healing.
- Recognizing the intersubjective field enhances therapeutic efficacy and patient recovery.
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