The self in psychotherapy

This paper presents Kohut's position regarding the use of introspection and empathy as the predominant tools of observation for any approach to be called psychological. This translates into the need to maintain a consistent focus on the patient's self experience, and for interpretations to be "experience near." The concept of selfobject and the specific selfobject transferences are reviewed, and the model of Muslin and Val is used to differentiate supportive psychotherapy, psychoanalytic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. A case illustration is presented demonstrating psychoanalytic psychotherapy where the therapeutic work focused on the patient's relationship outside the treatment, the "extra-transference object." The indications for and therapeutic value of this approach are discussed.