Psychotherapy: An Erotic Relationship

by David Mann

An Erotic Relationship challenges the traditional belief that transference and countertransference are merely forms of resistance that jeopardize the therapeutic process. David Mann shows how the erotic feelings and fantasies experienced by clients and therapists can be used to bring about a positive transformation. Combining extensive and lively clinical examples with theoretical insights and new research on infants, David Mann suggests that the development of the erotic derives from interactions between the parent and child and is seldom absent from the therapist-patient relationship. However, while the erotic always contains elements of past relationships, it also expresses hope for a different outcome in the present and future. Individual chapters explore the function of the erotic within the erotic pre-Oedipal and Oedipal material; homoeroticism in therapy; sexual intercourse as a metaphor for psychological change; the primal scene in the transference, and the difficulties of working with perversions. The book is as relevant now as it was when originally published. This Classic Edition contains a new introduction by David Mann, summarizing his current ideas since this book was first published in 1997. It brings the therapy setting alive, offering clinicians both an accessible and deeper understanding of the interaction between erotic transference and countertransference; it also gives an explicit picture of how these aspects of therapy can be used to enhance the therapeutic process. It remains an essential resource for psychoanalysts, psychotherapists and counsellors, their clients and anybody with an interest in Eros, desire, or mental health issues.

Genres: Psychology

212 pages, Paperback

First published February 13, 1997

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

David Mann is a British psychotherapist.

Reviews

[Helina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A journey through the (still) controversial ideas on sexuality and erotic transference in the therapeutic setting. The phenomenon of eroticism between clients and therapists can lead to sexual abuse and further inflicting trauma upon the client or, if handled with caution and awareness, can bring growth, healing and fix sexual distortions in the patient. David Mann rightfully states that therapists, like all other people, have sexual (erotic) fantasies, and that repression simply takes the fantasies away from where they can be accessible for analysis (seems like, the analyst needs more analysis). Such desires and feelings towards a client need to be observed and contained, certainly they must not be acted upon. (Which might not have been considered as sexually abusing the patient in the times of Freud and Jung, but today certainly is defined as such, and remains unethical even with the consent of the client). Basically, "what to do when a client mirrors sexually suggestive or pervasive intentions on you during therapeutic encounters (or after)" guidebook with loads of clinical vignettes. Recommended for everyone in a position of caretaker, educator, doctor, therapist, guide or mentor, for dealing with possible erotic fantasies that might come up in the dynamics of teacher/student, protector/imperilled, knowledgeable/virgin etc.

[Katrece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mann’s book is very informative, and I found it especially helpful for me as I am in CBT. It is not all “new” information, Anna O., etc. But, the way Mann explores transference, and countertransference is very insightful, and intriguing.