Hidden Conversations: Introduction to Communicative Psychoanalysis - Softcover

Smith, David Livingstone

Softcover

ISBN 10: 041504264X ISBN 13: 9780415042642

Publisher: Routledge, 1991

Synopsis

The communicative approach to psychoanalytic therapy, pioneered in the 1970s by Robert J. Langs, an American analyst, has aroused much controversy among analysts. Langs implies that psychotherapy is often harmful, with the words of a patient unconsciously revealing an unsatisfactory experience to the analyst. He raises many questions which analytical practitioners find hard to accept or resolve. "Hidden Conversations" introduces Langs' radical reinterpretation of psychoanalysis by presenting and expanding his ideas in new and accessible ways. It is an account of the theories underlying Langs' approach, placing them within the context of the history of psychoanalysis and showing, for example, that Freud nearly "discovered" the communicative approach in the late 1890s and that in the 1930s Ferenczi also anticipated the approach. David Livingston Smith illustrates the communicative approach with a wealth of practical, clinical examples, including verbatim accounts of communicative psychoanalytical sessions and a commentary on the unconscious processes underlying them. He also explores the philosophical underpinnings of psychoanalysis. This book should be of interest to professionals in analysis, psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.

About this title

Review

'This book can be highly recommended as a clear and concise outline of Lang's work, which will enable more practitioners to examine and evaluate his challenge.'- Phil Mollon, British Journal of Medical Psychology'...It seemed worthwhile to go into this book in some detail, because this wants to be the wave of the future.'- John Rowan, Self and Society'This is written with great clarity. Smith argues for the importance of scientific scrutiny in psychoanalytic work and shows how the communicative approach lends itself to such study. His arguments for the importance of learning to perceive and decode accurately unconscious communications are compelling and constructive...This book presents many controversial and interesting ideas. I recommend it to practicing psychotherapists.'- Anne Nightingale, British Journal of Psychiatry

Synopsis

The communicative approach to psychoanalytic therapy, pioneered in the 1970s by Robert J. Langs, an American analyst, has aroused much controversy among analysts. Langs implies that psychotherapy is often harmful, with the words of a patient unconsciously revealing an unsatisfactory experience to the analyst. He raises many questions which analytical practitioners find hard to accept or resolve. "Hidden Conversations" introduces Langs' radical reinterpretation of psychoanalysis by presenting and expanding his ideas in new and accessible ways. It is an account of the theories underlying Langs' approach, placing them within the context of the history of psychoanalysis and showing, for example, that Freud nearly "discovered" the communicative approach in the late 1890s and that in the 1930s Ferenczi also anticipated the approach. David Livingston Smith illustrates the communicative approach with a wealth of practical, clinical examples, including verbatim accounts of communicative psychoanalytical sessions and a commentary on the unconscious processes underlying them. He also explores the philosophical underpinnings of psychoanalysis.

This book should be of interest to professionals in analysis, psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1991
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 041504264X
• ISBN 13: 9780415042642
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320