Delving into the ‘emotional storms’

A thematic analysis of psychoanalysts’ initial consultation reports

Datos Bibliográficos

ID8972115
AutoresAlejandra Pérez (0000-0003-3330-1152, The British Psychoanalytic Society, Byron House, 112a Shirland Road, London, W9 2BT, UK, autor de correspondencia), Penelope Crick (The London Clinic of Psychoanalysis, Byron House, 112a Shirland Road, London, W9 2BT, UK, autor de correspondencia), Susan Lawrence (0000-0002-4920-2776, The British Psychoanalytic Society, Byron House, 112a Shirland Road, London, W9 2BT, UK, autor de correspondencia)
Año2015
Volumen96
Número3
Páginas659-680
Fecha de publicación2015-06-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaThe International Journal of Psychoanalysis (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0020-7578 • E-ISSN: 1745-8315
EditorialTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1745-8315.12356
PMID26173884
OpenAlexW2108765305
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas15

Psychoanalysts' written reports on initial consultations are a window into the complexities of a crucial aspect of psychoanalytic work. However, systematic research in this area has largely focused on patients' demographic factors or standardized measures. The present study looked at reports of all the consultations taking place at the London Clinic of Psychoanalysis over one calendar year (N = 100). The aim was to explore psychoanalysts' different explicit styles of working and reporting as well as further understanding implicit processes used in thinking and writing about each particular consultation experience. A thematic analysis revealed a set of themes that related to a style of working and thinking about the consultation process as a dyadic experience, where the interaction, affective reactions and contact made between the two are the focus when thinking of making a recommendation for psychoanalysis. The majority of the reports had an open, exploratory quality. The writing of reports appears to give the analyst an opportunity to process the consultation experience and arrive at a more triangular position. Writing reports is a more valuable part of the consultation process than has formally been recognized and acknowledged. The limitations of this study as well as the relevance of these findings for future research are discussed

Geography · Meteorology · Psychoanalysis · Psychotherapist · Qualitative research · Sociology · Storm · Thematic analysis · Anthropology · Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics · Psychological Testing and Assessment · Psychology · Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications