The Psychoanalytic Vision: The Experiencing Subject, Transcendence, and the Therapeutic Process: The Experiencing Subject, Transcendence, and the Therapeutic Process

by Frank Summers

This book departs from defining the analytic goal as the resolution of particular content toward viewing analytic process as an open-ended inquiry.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Cathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book on the radical potential of psychoanalysis. I have sensed I am a rebel in my choice of psychoanalytic study and practice. Summers' book elaborated this idea. I found the chapters in part 3 to be especially inspiring and relevant to the work I do in social, racial and environmental justice.

You can see my 2013 blog post on this book at http://tennesseehawk.typepad.com/hawk...

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the way Summers walks through how psychoanalysis should be focused on understanding one's subjective experience, instead of dictating what that inner experience should be. I found his theory open, and thoughtful. I particularly appreciated his attempt to examine how the culture of our time tends to objectify people, and make them think of themselves as machines. I find this very helpful as a clinician. I do think that his analysis of how people from different cultures frequently focused on acculturation, instead of talking about the values those different cultures can have, and the way those different cultures may create greater resilience and positive experiences.