Kaës’ Internal Groups and Actual Groups

A Relational Perspective

Bibliographic Data

ID9230762
AuthorsRichard M Billow (0000-0003-2510-7691, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume93
Issue3
Pages473-496
Publication date2024-07-02
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Psychoanalytic Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-2828 • E-ISSN: 2167-4086
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00332828.2024.2376130
PMID39037912
OpenAlexW4400879490
LanguageEN
References cited19

Rene Kaës (Citation2007), an influential French psychoanalyst relatively unknown to English-speaking readers, extends the field of psychoanalytic investigation and practice to groups. Building on Klein, Anzeiu, Bion, and Lacan, Kaës presents a dual-axes theory in which early oedipal and sibling complexes structure unconscious dynamics of internal groups. According to Kaës, analytic group psychotherapy provides access to the phantasies, affects, and action tendencies contained within internal groups that would be otherwise inaccessible. While a few reference articles have appeared in the English literature, Kaës’ bold assertions, core concepts, and praxis have not been subject to critical evaluation. I introduce Kaës’ main ideas, demonstrate their influence on my group work, and by comparing two case examples, from his practice and mine, articulate our differences, some of which arise from different conceptions of and approaches to intersubjectivity. The discussion continues in the final section which briefly considers the nature of psychoanalytic learning and how we may employ the therapeutic group to reach this goal

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