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The Analyst in the Inner City
In 1995, Neil Altman did what few psychoanalysts did or even dared to He brought the theory and practice of psychoanalysis out of the cozy confines of the consulting room and into the realms of the marginalized, to the very individuals whom this theory and practice often overlooked. In doing so, he brought together psychoanalytic and social theory, and examined how divisions of race, class and culture reflect and influence splits in the developing self, more often than not leading to a negative self image of the "other" in an increasingly polarized society. Much like the original, this second edition of The Analyst in the Inner City opens up with updated, detailed clinical vignettes and case presentations, which illustrate the challenges of working within this clinical milieu. Altman greatly expands his section on race, both in the psychoanalytic and the larger social world, including a focus on "whiteness" which, he argues, is socially constructed in relation to "blackness." However, he admits the inadequacy of such categorizations and proffers a more fluid view of the structure of race. A brand new section, "Thinking Systemically and Psychoanalytically at the Same Time," examines the impact of the socio-political context in which psychotherapy takes place, whether local or global, on the clinical work itself and the socio-economic categories of its patients, and vice-versa. Topics in this section include the APA’s relationship to CIA interrogation practices, group dynamics in child and adolescent psychotherapeutic interventions, and psychoanalytic views on suicide bombing. Ranging from the day-to-day work in a public clinic in the South Bronx to considerations of global events far outside the clinic’s doors (but closer than one might think), this book is a timely revision of a groundbreaking work in psychoanalytic literature, expanding the import of psychoanalysis from the centers of analytical thought to the margins of clinical need.
396 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 9, 2014
Do poor people get to have an unconscious? I see this as the deep question behind Neil Altman's fantastic book about bringing two person analysis to the inner city. The high cost of traditional analysis has limited non-wealthy people to a smaller sample of the benefits of psychology, mostly the conscious, behavioral techniques.
What I loved the most about this book is his focus on the therapist's(I translated it to my own life) counter transference while working with people of other races and socioeconomic classes. He gave the example of an African American lady telling a story and stopping half way through where she questions out loud if it is safe for her to talk about race in front of her white therapist. Traditional therapy would see this as transference or even resistance, something the patient is bringing from outside into the dyad. Feminist theory would say that she might be right to question whether or not it is safe to talk about race with a white therapist. But it is two person therapy that would see that part of this is the therapist's conscious or more likely unconscious communication that is making the patient feel unsafe. The author argues that this honesty and humility makes psychology more relevant and allow us to make a larger impact on the world. I am not that idealistic, as I believe that impact on the world happens in all sorts of ways, most of them much more obvious and easier to understand that honest humble reflection of our own role. I want to see it done because it really is a thing of beauty when it happens.
What I loved the most about this book is his focus on the therapist's(I translated it to my own life) counter transference while working with people of other races and socioeconomic classes. He gave the example of an African American lady telling a story and stopping half way through where she questions out loud if it is safe for her to talk about race in front of her white therapist. Traditional therapy would see this as transference or even resistance, something the patient is bringing from outside into the dyad. Feminist theory would say that she might be right to question whether or not it is safe to talk about race with a white therapist. But it is two person therapy that would see that part of this is the therapist's conscious or more likely unconscious communication that is making the patient feel unsafe. The author argues that this honesty and humility makes psychology more relevant and allow us to make a larger impact on the world. I am not that idealistic, as I believe that impact on the world happens in all sorts of ways, most of them much more obvious and easier to understand that honest humble reflection of our own role. I want to see it done because it really is a thing of beauty when it happens.
November 6, 2015
Analyst in the Inner City: Race, Class and Culture Through a Psychoanalytic Lens
Analyst in the Inner City opens with a series of vignettes about the experiences of a white middle-class professional analyst working with clients who do not have class-privilege, many of them folks of color, in low-income neighborhoods he describes as “the inner city.” As I began reading, I had a lot of questions about this book and where it was going.
But as the book progresses, Altman uses examples from these vignettes in his discussion of how psychoanalysis can be used as a lens to both view and challenge issues of racism and classism in our culture. Part II of the book carefully walks the readers through structures of race and class in the US. He explains why it is likely white analysts are likely to be racist, and why analysts with economic privilege are likely to have class-bias. Then he explains how acknowledging this and using it in psychoanalysis can be a powerful tool that benefits both the patient and analyst.
Altman is refreshingly unafraid to explore his own racism, setting an excellent example for other white therapists, or really, any white people thinking about racism. He explores his thoughts, and experiences through lenses of psychoanalysis and antiracism, and looks for ways he can continue to change and to grow. This gives the reader an opportunity to grow along with him, and a lens to examine our own racism.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews