The analyst at work

This paper is built about a core, consisting of a detailed description of one session in the middle of a long analysis. The analytic encounter is placed in widening contexts. At each level, the context is at once biographical (in terms of the patient) and autobiographical (in terms of the analyst's professional identity). The difficulties in the presentation of analytic evidence are acknowledged and explored. The aim is to come as close as possible, from the author's point of view, to scientific and historical truths. Put another way, the aim is to represent, to whatever extent is possible, a particular analyst at work with a particular patient at a particular time--from the 'inside', so to speak.