Browsing by Author "Anderson, Rod"

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    All about 'attacks' and remaining 'mindless' to feelings - psychoanalytic reflections in playtherapy
    (1996) Valentini, Valentina; Anderson, Rod
    This dissertation has attempted to illustrate by way of a cross-section of selected clinical material from particular phases in one long-term playtherapy, the relationship between the phenomenon of non-verbal and verbal attacks on the therapist, the therapeutic process and Bion's concept of projective identification. It is maintained that these attacks illustrate Bion's psychoanalytic thoughts concerning projective identification as a primitive mode of communication of unbearable feelings which cannot be tolerated, but at the same time unconsciously desire expression. Providing the theory for this is Bion's formulation of the container - contained model of early object relations and his explicit appreciation of the importance of the nurturing object, originally the mother and now the therapist, in helping the infant/child process their experience by making their thoughts thinkable, rather than remaining mindless to emotional experiences. How children communicate their experiences in therapy is frequently beyond words and can only be gauged by means of symbolic expressions, nonverbal responses, and primitive projective identification processes. The therapist's countertransference responses served as a core diagnostic tool for evaluating the nature of the child's communications. Furthermore countertransference responses, provided a valuable tool in dealing with, and containing, the concrete quality of these projective identifications by offering transformative experiences through meaningful interpretations. It is speculated that the repeated experience of the therapist remaining a repository for the child's projective identifications, in spite of the relentless attacks, played a major role in the gradual steps towards integrating the containing aspects of both the therapist as a modified figure and the therapeutic process.
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    The constellation of the archetypal feminine : a psychic process essential to psychodynamic psychotherapy
    (1994) Blow, Tracy Jacqueline; Swartz, Sally; Anderson, Rod
    The aim of this study is to explore and demonstrate the necessity for a psychodynamic psychotherapy which embodies and thus evokes the qualities of the Archetypal Feminine. C.G. Jung's concept of the coniunctio, or union of psychic opposites, forms the central theoretical premise on which the study is based. It is with the constellation of the coniunctio that psychic tranformation is achieved. The re-evocation and hence constellation of the archetypal feminine is viewed here as essential for the attainment of psychic integration, in view of the denigration and splitting off of psychic feminine aspects so evident in the histories of most cultures. The role of the feminine in personality development is described by way of an analysis of the archetype of the Feminine, and a documentation of early infant object relations as posited by such Analytical Psychotherapists as Michael Fordham and Mara Sidoli. These early infantile experiences can potentially be re-evoked in the therapeutic transference, particularly when a regressed psychic state is facilitated. This is well documented by analytical psychotherapists, and it is posited here that in order for this process to occur, a therapeutic approach which reveres and hence evokes the Feminine in all her manifestations is critical. This theoretical proposition is examined by way of an analysis of a series of dreams. The dreams were recorded by the dreamer while in a psychodynamically-oriented psychotherapy. The dreams occurred over a seven month period, and were presented in written form to the researcher with accompanying associations. Without gaining any further insights from the dreamer, the researcher analysed the dream series by utilising the associations provided, and amplifying archetypal material. In this way, the need for a therapeutic approach which facilitates the spontaneous emergence of feminine symbolism is demonstrated, and hence the gradual constellation of the coniunctio is shown. The implications for psychotherapy which emerge from this analysis involve the need for an approach to psychic healing which allows for the facilitation of the constellation of the archetypal feminine. Such an approach would provide a sense of secure therapeutic boundaries which would evoke the qualities of the containing vessel. Within this holding environment, a state of regression would occur in which the patient could re-experience infantile levels of relating, levels at which original damage occurred. With an awareness of the dynamics of such early relating, and the potential for their re-evocation,the therapist would facilitate healing and psychic transformation. Myth and fairytale would provide a rich source of reference for the interpretation of dream symbols, and for understanding the myth being lived out by each patient.
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    'Sticks and stones can break your bones, but words--' : a psychoanalytic case study of the role of the body in trauma and containment
    (2008) Mendel, Anya; Kaminer, Debbie; Tomlinson, Mark; Anderson, Rod
    The anaclitic relationship between psyche and soma is a basic premise of psychoanalytic thought, and is richly woven into classic and contemporary literature in this field. Yet there is limited work drawing together these disparate references, or focussing directly on the role of the body as anaclitic basis for the mind, particularly in relation to the reciprocal conditions of containment and traumatisation. This qualitative case study aims to explore the usefulness of this particularly body of psychoanalytic theory in making meaning of a two-year therapy process with a child who had been multiply maltreated. Clinical case material from this psycholanalytically-oriented therapy was analysed through the lens of the psychoanalytic literature reviewed. This analysis revealed four themes, which reflect the interplay between physical and psychic skins in the child's relationship to the maternal object (Theme 1) and in his sense of self (Theme 2), and the interaction between bodily and emotional digestion in his intake of goodness (Theme 3) and expulsion of badness (Theme 4). These findings point to the utility and robustness of this particular theoretical framework in understanding and integrating a large corpus of previously bewildering and disjointed case material with a multiply traumatised child. Implications for theory and for practice are indicated.
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    The written psychodynamic formulation in a Jungian framework
    (1992) Mitchell, Colin; Swartz, Sally; Anderson, Rod
    The present thesis has two main aims. The first of these is to examine the reasons behind the author's finding during his training for the MA (Clinical Psychology) degree that there is a tendency in the Jungian literature for analytical psychology to be presented in a way which is distanced from the practical realities of the clinical situation. This examination is conducted through an appraisal of the Jungian literature and several clear, substantial reasons are revealed. The second aim has two parts to it. The first part is to attempt to justify using Jungian theory in the diagnostic and assessment context of clinical work. This is done by showing that two models, the individuation and medical models, both exist in analytical psychology but that the medical model has been under-emphasized. Following this, the psychodynamic formulation is situated in the context of clinical psychology in order to show its relationship to the diagnostic and assessment context of clinical work. The second part is to attempt to partly fill the gap in the Jungian literature through providing a format for the psychodynamic formulation in a Jungian framework and to show how the Jungian psychodynamic formulation informs management planning, with particular emphasis being placed on the assessment of patients for psychotherapy. This is done through providing provisional guidelines for the construction and use of the psychodynamic formulation in a Jungian framework in the context of a training programme such as the one the author has been in. Finally, a brief comment is included about a contrast which the author sees between the thesis of pluralism and his own views on the theoretical diversity that is employed in the present thesis.