Psychoanalysis with adults inspired by parent-infant psychotherapy: The analyst's metaphoric function

Area of Science:

• Psychotherapy
• Linguistics
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Metaphors arise in parent-infant psychotherapy (PIP).
• Voiced metaphors become tools for understanding mother and/or child predicaments.
• Analyst impasses were resolved by employing metaphors.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate why PIP experiences inspire analysts to use metaphors with adult patients.
• Explore how metaphors enhance understanding of patient suffering.
• Examine the infantile roots and therapeutic application of metaphors.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of vignettes from parent-infant psychotherapy sessions.
• Inclusion of a case vignette from adult psychoanalysis.
• Review of linguistic theory and psychoanalytic perspectives on metaphor.

Main Results:

• Metaphors, originating in PIP, can be effectively used with adult patients.
• Analyst impasses were overcome through the strategic use of metaphors.
• Patient response to metaphors is key to assessing their validity.

Conclusions:

• Metaphor is a potent therapeutic tool for mapping the internal world.
• Parsimonious and sober use of metaphor enhances patient understanding.
• Therapeutic metaphors bridge infantile experiences with adult psychological states.