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The patient's own pillow on the couch
Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association
|January 1, 1982
Summary
Two hypochondriacal patients resisted analysis progress by using personal pillows on the couch. This resistance revealed underlying transference fantasies and influenced the analyst's countertransference feelings.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychoanalysis
Background:
- Psychoanalytic therapy involves exploring patient resistance.
- Understanding transference and countertransference is crucial for therapeutic progress.
Observation:
- Two patients with hypochondriacal tendencies exhibited unusual behavior.
- Patients insisted on placing their own pillows atop the bolster-pillow on the analyst's couch.
Findings:
- The patients' pillow-placing behavior represented significant transference fantasies.
- These fantasies acted as a resistance to the psychoanalytic process.
Implications:
- This case highlights how seemingly minor patient actions can signify deep-seated psychological conflicts.
- Analyzing these resistances offers insights into the patient's internal world and the analyst's emotional responses.