Ahron Friedberg, a psychodynamic psychiatrist and clinical professor, discusses his book on psychoanalytic studies that delve into the complexities of love and treatment over time. He explores how various forms of love impact therapy, including taboo desires and obsessive fantasies. Friedberg shares techniques for therapists to assist patients who struggle with resistance and feelings of stagnation. The conversation highlights the essential role of empathy and narratives in healing, emphasizing the intricate dynamics of maternal and paternal influences on emotional growth.
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Book Overview
Dr. Friedberg's book presents four in-depth case studies, each about 30-40 pages long.
The cases explore how love manifests in psychoanalysis, capturing the complexities of human desire.
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Recreating from Memory
Dr. Friedberg reconstructs patient stories from memory, stepping back from notes.
He aims to capture essential truths, acknowledging the creative element in this process.
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Faces of Love
Love has many facets, including sensual, playful, and familial love, as Plato observed.
Dr. Friedberg's book explores these diverse forms of love through patient case studies.
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In "Faces of Love," Dr. Ahron Friedberg presents four detailed case studies illustrating the intricate interplay between love and the psychoanalytic process. Each case unfolds over several years, revealing the complexities of human desire and the non-linear nature of therapeutic progress. The book explores various themes, including repressed desires, family dynamics, and the challenges of maintaining treatment engagement. Friedberg's work offers valuable insights into the therapeutic relationship and the role of love in healing. It's a must-read for psychoanalytic professionals and anyone interested in the complexities of human relationships.
Life Studies in Psychoanalysis: Faces of Love(Routledge, 2023), by Dr. Ahron Friedberg, consists of four psychoanalytic studies each representing a patient's course of treatment over several years. These studies demonstrate how love, in an array of forms, is refracted through the process of psychoanalysis, which unfolds over time and reveals the complexities of human desire. The cases presented here cover topics including repressed homosexuality, a taboo desire for a sibling, obsession with a fantasy, an Oedipus complex, and transferences that become an initial obstacle to treatment. Dr. Ahron Friedberg offers professionals techniques for encouraging patients to remain in treatment when they become resistant, demoralized, or feel like they have hit a wall. As the studies proceed, each renders the non-linear progress of treatment, as layer upon layer of a patient's issues are brought to light and the patient slowly, often reluctantly, comes to terms with these issues. Life Studies in Psychoanalysis will be of great interest to psychoanalysts in practice and in training, psychoanalytic psychotherapists and readers looking for insight into the analytic process.
Akilesh Ayyar is a spiritual teacher and writer in New York. He can be reached at ayyar@akilesh.com.
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