New Books in Psychology

Roberta Satow, "Our Time Is Up" (Ipbooks, 2024)

Jan 16, 2025

Dr. Roberta Satow, a seasoned psychoanalyst and author, discusses her latest book, a novel that presents psychoanalysis through the lens of both patient and analyst. She intricately weaves transference themes into her protagonist Rose's journey, exploring intimacy, trust, and emotional dynamics in therapy. Satow shares her shift from academic writing to storytelling, reflecting on her own experiences within orthodox settings. The conversation also touches on the significance of cultural influences and how personal narratives can enrich therapeutic relationships.

50:21

Episode guests

Roberta Satow

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Dr. Roberta Satow illustrates the complexities of the patient-analyst dynamic by intertwining personal narratives with fictional case histories in her novel.

The theme of intimacy in therapy is explored through Rose's interactions with her analyst and three patients, highlighting emotional vulnerabilities and yearnings for connection.

Deep dives

The Journey of Writing a Novel

The author shares that her motivation for writing her new novel has been developing for many years, beginning shortly after her previous work in 2005, which combined personal and academic experiences. She explains that her transition from strictly academic writing to incorporating personal narratives marked the beginning of her exploration into the complexities of both patient and analyst experiences. The journey back to this novel was interrupted by her previous book, but her passion to illustrate the nuanced relationship between a patient and an analyst compelled her to finish it. The author underscores that this novel has facilitated a way for her to express her long-held desire to depict her insights intimately and authentically.

Intro

4min

Exploring Psychoanalysis Through Fiction

12min

Exploring Autobiography and Orthodoxy in Psychoanalysis

3min

Intimacy and Conflict in Therapy

18min

Rearranging Narratives: The Analogy of Curators and Analysts

3min

Exploring Regret and Guilt Through Writing

3min

The Intersection of Writing and Analysis

3min

Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Roberta Satow about her new book Our Time Is Up (Ipbooks, 2024).

In 1895 Freud noticed that his case histories “read like short stories and that, as one might say, they lack the serious stamp of science.” What Dr. Satow has written works in the other direction; a novel that reads like case histories. She has accomplished the difficult task of representing what it feels like on both sides of the couch as her protagonist Rose is first a patient and then an analyst. This allows Satow to introduce multiple patients, each with resonant and recognizable temperaments. As a reader these characters present us with experiences of transference, counter transference, and the intimacy afforded by both. Intimacy is the affect running through the book.

While much of Rose’s story is autobiographical, Satow the writer knew she needed a plot and gave herself license to invent the final chapter of Rose’s relationship with her analyst. This part of the story satisfies a fantasy many patients have in relation to their analyst. It is pure wish fulfilment.

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