New Books in Psychoanalysis

Today I spoke with Dr. Louis Rothschild about his new book Rapprochement Between Fathers and Sons Breakdowns, Reunions, Potentialities (Karnac, 2024). Our conversation moved freely between theory, generational attitudes, thinkers, and personal vignettes.What is a good enough father? What is the difference between a man of achievement and a man of power? Who is the father of the mother’s mind? What happens when a father enables holding? How is masculinity valued by other men? What is meant by phrases such as a “man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do?” Why exactly do we need to “call the boy’s father?” How is the father’s role rendered invisible? These are some of the questions subsumed in the broader question of “Who nurtures and who is nurtured?” (And does the myth of the “self-made-man” indicate a man who exists without nurturing?)“What I'm arguing”, says Rothschild, “is that that sexist dichotomy is a mirage in its own right and that attachment strings needn't be severed. They can be reworked over the lifespan and this idea of having this clean tidy break and going off to live your life where liberating the kid from this regressive maternal bond is the path to individuation, I think that's just patently false.”Like an analyst, the book has been in formation for many years. “Percolating and distilling” as Dr. Rothschild says at the top of the interview. Motivated by the “way the culture was shifting” he sensed “that things I take for granted are actually a minority opinion.” Rothschild’s survey of sons includes mythology; Oedipus scripture; Issac. As well as the sons of literature; Sendak’s Max, Silverstein’s Boy, White’s Swan, and others. Affect rich case illustrations are also presented. The issues addressed in the book are the ones we are contending with in in analysis. They are the discussions we are having with our fathers, sons, and families. Rothschild’s book is essential and meets the clinical moment.“Louis Rothschild’s book is both an outstanding representative of ‘return to the father’ and a unique explication of psychoanalytic thought on its own. This is a book of great literary elegance and impressive psychological wisdom.” Salman Akhtar, MDChristopher Russell, LP is a psychoanalyst in Chelsea, Manhattan. He is a member of the faculty and supervising analyst at The Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies and The New York Graduate School of Psychoanalysis. His primary theorists are Sándor Ferenczi and Hyman Spotnitz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychoanalysis

Juliane Maxwell, a seasoned licensed psychoanalyst and ASEC-certified sex therapist from NYC, delves into the intricate dance between psychoanalysis and sex therapy. She discusses how sexual symptoms often reveal deeper unconscious conflicts and attachment wounds. Using vivid clinical cases, she explores themes like the emotional roles of pornography, the embodied nature of masturbation, and how trauma informs our sexual lives. Maxwell emphasizes the importance of integrating therapeutic approaches to foster healing and reclaim authentic desire.

In this engaging discussion, Anna Fishzon, a psychoanalytic clinician and author, delves into her new book, intertwining personal experiences with breast cancer, mourning, and identity. She explores how a reconstructed breast symbolizes uncanny loss and presence. Fishzon also examines the gaps in psychoanalytic literature around cancer existentialism, shame, and maternal relations. Drawing connections to Soviet history, opera, and nonlinear time, she offers profound insights into the complexities of survivorship and the relentless process of mourning.

Analyzed by Lacan: A Personal Account (Bloomsbury, 2023) brings together the first English translations of Why Lacan, Betty Milan's memoir of her analysis with Lacan in the 1970s, and her play, Goodbye Doctor, inspired by her experience.Why Lacan provides a unique and valuable perspective on how Lacan worked as psychoanalyst as well as his approach to psychoanalytic theory. Milan's testimony shows that Lacan's method of working was based on the idea that the traditional way of interpreting provoked resistance.Prior to Why Lacan, Milan wrote a play, Goodbye Doctor, based on her experience as Lacan's patient. The play is structured around the sessions of Seriema with the Doctor. Through the analysis, Seriema discovers why she cannot give birth, namely, an unconscious desire to satisfy the will of her father who didn't authorize her to conceive. She ceases to be the victim of her unconscious, grasps the possibility of choosing a father for her child and thus becoming a mother. Goodbye Doctor has been adapted into a film, Adieu Lacan, by the director Richard Ledes.Analyzed by Lacan features an Introduction by Milan to both works as well as a new interview with Mari Ruti about her writing and Lacan.Matthew Pieknik, LCSW, MA is a psychoanalyst and clinical supervisor in private practice in Manhattan. He can be reached at matthewpieknik@gmail.com. www.matthewlpieknik.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychoanalysis

Oliver Davis, a professor of French studies at the University of Warwick, and Tim Dean, a sexuality studies scholar at the University of Illinois, explore the complex relationship between sex and identity. They discuss how cultural frameworks often overlook the 'unpleasurable pleasures' of sex, revealing how trauma and societal norms can distort our understanding. By critiquing queer theory and identity politics, they urge a deeper reckoning with sex's destabilizing nature, suggesting that embracing its chaos can lead to authentic self-discovery.

Renowned psychoanalyst Dr. Nancy McWilliams discusses psychoanalytic supervision in her latest book. She explores the role of supervisors in developing clinical skills, navigating power dynamics and diversity, and addressing ethical dilemmas. The podcast covers topics such as the importance of free association, setting boundaries in therapy, and the unique vulnerability of supervisees. It also examines challenges in counseling and therapy, including legal issues and therapist-patient suicide.

Mary Edwards, expert on Jean-Paul Sartre, discusses Sartre's existential psychoanalysis and his unique method of understanding individuals while respecting their freedom. They explore the possibility of combining Sartre's existentialism with psychoanalysis, discuss Sartre's method in psychoanalysis and its application to Jean Genet and Charles Baudelaire, and analyze Flaubert's self-formation process through Sartre's existential psychoanalysis. They also delve into Sartre's theories on imagination, the implications of the new theory presented in the book, and the importance of understanding others for self-analysis.

Jamieson Webster, a New York-based psychoanalyst and author of 'Disorganisation & Sex,' dives deep into the tensions between desire and the complexities of sexual identity. She discusses how psychoanalysis can break away from traditional dyad models to foster broader social change. Webster challenges the norms of training institutions and stresses the need for institutional self-scrutiny. She also explores the duality of contemporary sexuality, linking it to societal catastrophes while advocating for a nuanced approach to sexual expression and psychoanalytic thought.

Dr. Jane Goldberg, a psychoanalyst and author of *Wired for Why*, delves into the intricate relationship between thought, emotion, and identity. She argues that memory is an illusion and discusses how narrative and curiosity shape the brain. Goldberg sheds light on why B students often outperform A students, emphasizing creative paths, and criticizes society's trend of medicating emotional experiences. Moreover, she shares insights on the integration of psychoanalysis in cancer care and the idea that some patients can psychologically reverse their illness.

Psychoanalyst Jamieson Webster discusses the revised translation of Françoise Dolto's "Dominique: The Case of an Adolescent." She explores the unique structure of Dolto's work, featuring session fragments and rich insights into the therapeutic process. Topics include the intricate dynamics between mother and child, the concept of authority in therapy, and the impact of identity on adolescent development. Jamieson also touches on Dolto's relevance today regarding gender and family diversity, highlighting her innovative contributions to child psychoanalysis.