Ahron Friedberg, a psychodynamic psychiatrist and clinical professor, dives deep into the intricate connections between psychoanalysis and love. He explores unique case studies revealing themes like repressed desires and familial dynamics. Friedberg discusses techniques to support patients facing resistance and highlights the significance of transference in therapy. He also examines love's interplay with sexuality, drawing from ancient Greek philosophies, all while emphasizing the personalized nature of healing relationships within therapy.
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insights INSIGHT
Faces of Love
Love has diverse forms, including eros (sensual), agape (nature), ludus (playful), and philia (familial).
Plato's categories help understand the multifaceted nature of love explored in Dr. Friedberg's book.
insights INSIGHT
Freud's Libido
Freud viewed libido as a life force driving both sex and creativity.
He believed that sublimating libido fuels civilization's achievements in arts and sciences.
insights INSIGHT
Mother's Love
A mother's unconditional love provides a lifelong wellspring of strength.
This secure base allows healthy development by promoting adherence to societal rules.
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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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