Assessment of suitability for low-fee control psychoanalysis: some theoretical and technical considerations

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychoanalysis
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• The suitability assessment for low-fee psychoanalytic control analysis faces potential referral, evaluation, and disposition challenges.
• Factors involving the referring analyst, patient, candidate, and supervisor interact with the assessment context.

Observation:

• Psychological factors like competence, self-esteem, oedipal rivalry, guilt, and fear of rejection can impede assessment success.
• Clinical data from three assessments illustrate these dynamics.
• The assessment process is conceptualized as analogous to the psychoanalytic process.

Findings:

• Patient's intrapsychic dynamics and potential transference indicators emerge during the assessment.
• Reactions to the assessment itself provide crucial analytical insights.
• Interference sources within the assessment process are identified.

Implications:

• Recognizing and addressing potential interferences can improve assessment outcomes.
• The proposed assessment process model offers a framework for understanding and managing complex clinical situations.
• This approach enhances the effectiveness of psychoanalytic treatment initiation.