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Core Competencies of Relational Psychoanalysis
Core Competencies of Relational Psychoanalysis provides a concise and clearly presented handbook for those who wish to study, practice, and teach the core competencies of Relational Psychoanalysis, offering primary skills in a straightforward and useable format. Roy E. Barsness offers his own research on technique and grounds these methods with superb contributions from several master clinicians, expanding the seven primary therapeutic intent, therapeutic stance/attitude; analytic listening/attunement; working within the relational dynamic, the use of patterning and linking; the importance of working through the inevitable enactments and ruptures inherent in the work; and the use of courageous speech through disciplined spontaneity. In addition, this book presents a history of Relational Psychoanalysis, offers a study on the efficacy of Relational Psychoanalysis, proposes a new relational ethic and attends to the the importance of self-care in working within the intensity of such a model. A critique of the model is offered, issues of race and culture and gender and sexuality are addressed, as well as current research on neurobiology and its impact in the development of the model. The reader will find the writings easy to understand and accessible, and immediately applicable within the therapeutic setting. The practical emphasis of this text will also offer non-analytic clinicians a window into the mind of the analyst, while increasing the settings and populations in which this model can be applied and facilitate integration with other therapeutic orientations. Core Competencies of Relational Psychoanalysis is inspired by Barsness’ students; he was motivated to create a primary text that could assist them in understanding the often complex and abstract models of Relational Psychoanalysis. Relevant for graduate students and novice therapists as well as experienced clinicians, supervisors, and professors, this textbook offers a foundational curriculum for the study of Relational Psychoanalysis, presents analytic technique with as clear a frame and purpose as evidenced based models, and serves as a gateway into further study in Relational Psychoanalyses.
390 pages, Paperback
Published July 11, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 21, 2023
Superb!
Relational psychoanalysis (RP) is a recent (emerging in the late 90’s to the present) psychoanalytic school that emphasizes the relationship between the analyst and the patient. RP draws from eclectic influences and disciplines too vast to list here, but probably most significantly including postmodernist critical theory (feminist, queer theory, literary theory and cultural criticism etc).
Wherein traditional psychoanalysis assumes the analyst is the authority who is trained and uniquely qualified to utilize the conventions, techniques and constructs of whatever school of psychoanalysis in which they operate, to identify, interpret and resolve the source of the patients neurosis.
RP is based in a “2 person psychology” whereby the self in relationship is considered the indivisible unit of treatment. As such, RP recognizes the therapeutic relationship (rather than the expertise of the clinician, or the therapeutic technique/modality) as the agent of therapeutic efficacy.
Perhaps RP’s most differentiating feature is its move away from the “clincial abstinence” of conventional psychoanalysis (i.e. the injunction for analyst’s to remain “neutral” or “impartial”. RP breaks with that tradition, and incorporates the analyst’s subjective experience, affording the analyst’s self disclosure as a part of the process.
RP assumes that the analyst and patient co-create the treatment, which is necessarily unique for each patient.
As such, RP has (until this book) resisted codification beyond loosely defined principles (until this book).
The author/editor Roy E. Barnsness noticed that the freedom and undefined nature of RP was a frickin’ god send for experienced and traditionally trained psychoanalysts. But new people coming into the field we’re getting COMPLETELY lost in the anarchic sauce (or lack there of).
This book attempts to codify important principles of RP without loosing the aforementioned spirit of here/now co-creative emergence that makes RP what it is.
I found this book to be thought-provoking Useful from cover to cover. If you’re a therapist, particularly if you’re in private practice, I really can’t recommend this book highly enough. It’s great. Definitely read it if you’re so inclined.
5/5
Relational psychoanalysis (RP) is a recent (emerging in the late 90’s to the present) psychoanalytic school that emphasizes the relationship between the analyst and the patient. RP draws from eclectic influences and disciplines too vast to list here, but probably most significantly including postmodernist critical theory (feminist, queer theory, literary theory and cultural criticism etc).
Wherein traditional psychoanalysis assumes the analyst is the authority who is trained and uniquely qualified to utilize the conventions, techniques and constructs of whatever school of psychoanalysis in which they operate, to identify, interpret and resolve the source of the patients neurosis.
RP is based in a “2 person psychology” whereby the self in relationship is considered the indivisible unit of treatment. As such, RP recognizes the therapeutic relationship (rather than the expertise of the clinician, or the therapeutic technique/modality) as the agent of therapeutic efficacy.
Perhaps RP’s most differentiating feature is its move away from the “clincial abstinence” of conventional psychoanalysis (i.e. the injunction for analyst’s to remain “neutral” or “impartial”. RP breaks with that tradition, and incorporates the analyst’s subjective experience, affording the analyst’s self disclosure as a part of the process.
RP assumes that the analyst and patient co-create the treatment, which is necessarily unique for each patient.
As such, RP has (until this book) resisted codification beyond loosely defined principles (until this book).
The author/editor Roy E. Barnsness noticed that the freedom and undefined nature of RP was a frickin’ god send for experienced and traditionally trained psychoanalysts. But new people coming into the field we’re getting COMPLETELY lost in the anarchic sauce (or lack there of).
This book attempts to codify important principles of RP without loosing the aforementioned spirit of here/now co-creative emergence that makes RP what it is.
I found this book to be thought-provoking Useful from cover to cover. If you’re a therapist, particularly if you’re in private practice, I really can’t recommend this book highly enough. It’s great. Definitely read it if you’re so inclined.
5/5
May 2, 2021
This is a must read for anyone practicing relational psychoanalytic therapy. After interviewing 15 highly experienced psychoanalysts, Barsness analyzed the data with Grounded Theory Analysis (constructivist, subjective, hermeneutic). 8 core competencies were identified: therapeutic intent, therapeutic stance, affective attunement, the there and then and the here and now, patterning and linking, working through, courageous speech, and love. These are then iterated in chapters written by those at the top of the field--guaranteeing comprehensive perspective.
Techniques like intersubjectivty (transference-countertransference) are explored within the broader competencies. The writing in the book is beautiful, while also leaving the reader with a deep sense of what is required to embody the competencies. The book was transformative.
It also ends with a thorough critique of the relational approach and a post script responding to the critique. Contemporary issues in relational psychoanalytic thought are also explored, such as "thick ethics," sex and gender, cultural complexities and more.
Techniques like intersubjectivty (transference-countertransference) are explored within the broader competencies. The writing in the book is beautiful, while also leaving the reader with a deep sense of what is required to embody the competencies. The book was transformative.
It also ends with a thorough critique of the relational approach and a post script responding to the critique. Contemporary issues in relational psychoanalytic thought are also explored, such as "thick ethics," sex and gender, cultural complexities and more.
March 31, 2021
This book is a required text in one of my classes. I am so grateful to have been exposed to it, as it has truly enriched my learning around psychology -and how I think about being a therapist. It is a text intended for students and new therapists, and gives such practical ways to engage with patients and oneself.
March 31, 2019
Helpful for defining the current practice of analysis.
Helpful for defining the current practice of analysis and the debates around what constitutes the work. Worthwhile read for beginning and advanced practicing analysts.
Helpful for defining the current practice of analysis and the debates around what constitutes the work. Worthwhile read for beginning and advanced practicing analysts.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews