This Art of Psychoanalysis

Thomas H. Ogden’s thinking has been at the forefront of psychoanalysis for more than twenty-five years. Drawing on the work of Sigmund Freud, Melanie Klein, Donald Winnicott and Wilfred Bion, the author explores the link between human psychopathology and the individual’s inability to dream about their own experiences. This book succeeds not merely in presenting a collection of theoretical analyses and clinical examples, but in establishing an original and creative approach to psychoanalytic work with patients. An informative, engaging text aimed at psychoanalysts, psychotherapists, other mental health professionals, and anyone interested in exploring contemporary psychoanalytic thought. ‘Psychoanalysis is an emotional experience that is lived through and, as such, cannot be translated, recorded, explained, understood or put into words. It is what it is. However, I believe that it is possible to say something about this living experience that will help us to reflect on aspects of what happens between analysts and their patients when they are engaged in psychoanalytic work.” ―Thomas H. Ogden “Ogden considers that, when the psychoanalyst writes a text based on some analytical experience of his own, he is processing that experience. He regards writing as a form of transformation of experience, which reflects the psychoanalyst-writer’s endeavour to discover, as he writes, the truth of that experience. The reader of the text, particularly if they are a clinician, has the opportunity—offered by Ogden through his open perspective and style of writing—to think about and imagine the session through their own eyes, but also to reflect on moments from their own practice.” ―Grigoris Vaslamatzis The book is part of the Psychoanalytic series directed and edited by psychiatrist and child psychiatrist Athanasios Alexandridis.