Roberta Satow, PhD, is a practicing psychoanalyst and former sociologist whose writing blends personal and professional reflections. In a captivating discussion, she delves into the evolution of unspoken thoughts in therapy, drawing parallels to her memoir/novel, 'Our Time is Up.' Satow also shares insights from her historical fiction inspired by Trotsky's life, revealing how culture shapes therapeutic experiences. They explore the emotional intertwining of patient and therapist, spotlighting the profound connections that deepen through shared vulnerabilities.

Jhuma Basak, PhD, an analyst from Calcutta, reveals her poignant journey through a sudden cancer diagnosis. She candidly discusses the emotional upheaval of balancing her illness with patient care, emphasizing the significance of 'honest submission' in therapy. Jhuma explores cultural beliefs about mortality in Indian society, the complexities of vulnerability in the therapeutic relationship, and how personal experiences can enhance connections with patients. Her story is a testament to the healing power of shared struggles.

Marianne Leuzinger-Bohleber, a professor specializing in the transformation of dreams in psychoanalysis, shares her personal and professional insights. She recounts her journey through grief and how her dreams evolved from nightmares to positive, problem-solving narratives during therapy. The discussion highlights the significance of dream analysis in tracking therapeutic progress, the interplay between psychoanalysis and empirical research, and the broader implications of dreams for emotional healing. Leuzinger-Bohleber emphasizes the importance of individualized approaches to therapy.

Barbara Stimmel, PhD, discusses the delicate balance between sharing clinical material for educational purposes while respecting patient privacy. The podcast explores the repercussions of revealing patient identities in writing and the importance of maintaining boundaries in therapy. It also delves into the complexities of co-writing clinical vignettes with patients and emphasizes the analyst's responsibility in maintaining confidentiality and ethical standards.

Dr. Eike Hinze, a psychologist specializing in psychoanalytic training, discusses the adventurous journey of psychoanalytic training, where trainees delve into their unconscious psyche and explore unknown areas. The podcast explores the challenges, theoretical models, and transformative breakthroughs in psychoanalytic training, emphasizing the importance of personal analysis and supervised analytic case treatments. It also delves into topics like handling transference, maintaining neutrality, navigating boundaries in therapy, and interpreting the symbolic meaning of patient gifts.

Psychiatrist Charis Cladouhos discusses the integration of psychedelic medicines in psychotherapy, emphasizing the importance of ongoing therapy relationships. She advocates for psychoanalysts to be more involved in the psychedelic field and urges caution and humility in the approach to psychedelic practices. Topics include the use of ketamine, touch, and music in therapy sessions, as well as the challenges and benefits of incorporating psychedelic medicines into psychoanalytic therapy.

“What is it like to be a clinician with a patient who either comes because they're going to be dying or it happens in the treatment -  what is it like for the clinician? It's lonely in a way because there is a lot of parallel with what the patient is going through. To me, and as a field, I would like to think we could talk about this and write about it. My peer group at the time was terribly important to me - colleagues, people that basically would be with me in this. But in the end I was the one that went alone to the service at the funeral home and I went to my patient's luncheon, not to have the lunch but to talk to the family, and then I left - I didn't stay for the lunch, I thought that might be a little intrusive. There's nothing really to read about, talk about, pick somebody's brain about how do they experience this in their work or I don't really understand why we've been so quiet about this in our work.” PW   “You mentioned about being alone in it, and there is a way in which it's very true. I think a large part is that not many of our colleagues have had this experience. But on the flip side, maybe because I’ve worked with so many patients and I’m beginning to notice a certain consistency, but I've also had such an experience of close intimacy with these patients. There's a closeness that is to be had particularly in analytic work and work over time - but it happens quite quickly in the work with dying patients, and in that regard, I felt less alone in my work. In some ways in the rest of our work, because we maintain a careful distance in a way, a boundary with the patient, a frame - I feel with the dying patients, I feel like both of us are more in the room together.” MM     Episode Description: We begin with acknowledging the tension that exists between the literal and metaphoric aspects of the analytic relationship and how that is highlighted in the face of physical illness in either party. We focus on patients' illnesses both as they present upon initial consultation and when they develop in the course of treatment. Mark describes his years of work with cancer patients, and Peggy shares her experience with an analysand who, in the 6th year of her treatment, developed a terminal illness. We consider the emotional challenges associated with making home visits, the meaning of 'boundaries', feelings associated with fees, and the shared experience of love between patient and analyst. We consider the ways that the analyst’s affective intensity may also be associated with earlier and feared illnesses in their own life. We close with considering the difficulties that our field has in honestly communicating this aspect of the heart and soul of psychoanalysis.   Linked Episodes: Episode 23: A Psychoanalyst Encounters the Dying – Discovering ‘Existential Maturity’   Episode 40: How Psycho-Oncology Informs an Approach to the Covid-19 Crises with Norman Straker, MD   Our Guests: Mark Moore, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst who works in private practice in Philadelphia. He was the Director of Psychological Services at the Abramson Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital from 2004-2014 where he supervised psychology interns and post-doctoral fellows during their psycho-oncology rotation and provided psychological services to cancer patients and their families. He is also currently a co-leader for a weekly doctoring group for neurology residents at Penn Medicine. He was the Director of the Psychotherapy Training Program from 2014-2020 at the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia, where he currently teaches courses on Writing, Assessment, Core Concepts, and a comparative course on Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. He was a recipient of the 2020 Edith Sabshin Teaching Award from the American Psychoanalytic Association, and he runs a monthly teaching forum for faculty at his institute. Dr. Moore’s clinical work focuses on health issues, notably chronic illness, losses, and life transitions associated with cancer, and the fear of dying. He has written several book chapters on topics including the concept of harmony in Japan, cultural perspectives on lying, conducting therapy outside the office, the experience of bodily betrayal in illness and aging, the experience of shame across the adult lifespan, and more recently about friendship.    Peggy Warren, MD, is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in Boston. Originally from Chicago, she danced professionally with Giordano Dance Chicago from ages 15 to 21, which created a lifelong interest in the effects of creativity and mentoring on human development. Fascinated by cell biology, she received a master’s degree in microbiology from Chicago Medical School and then an MD from Rush University. In medical school, she was chosen to be an Osler Honor Fellow in Pathology/Oncology, where she was first exposed to dying patients. Awarded the Nathan Freer prize for excellence in a medical student at graduation, she used the prize money to buy the Complete Works of Freud and began to learn about the power of the unconscious. After completing residency training in psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, she pursued analytic training and graduated from the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. She was on the teaching and supervising faculty of the MGH/McLean psychiatry residency program for 30 years, the Boston Psychoanalytic faculty for 20 years, and won the teaching award from the Harvard Medical School MGH/McLean residency program in 2010. She has given talks on “Vaslav Nijinski: Creativity and Madness,” was a discussant with Doris Kearns Goodwin on Abraham Lincoln and depression, lectured on the effect of twinships on siblings, was a discussant in the “Off the Couch Film Series,” (Boston Coolidge Corner theater), a case presenter “On the Dying Patient” at the 2017 American Psychoanalytic meetings, and is a faculty member of the American Psychoanalytic Association’s annual Workshop on Psychoanalytic Writing. She has been in private practice in Boston as a psychoanalyst for 38 years.   Recommended Readings: Bergner, S. (2011). Seductive Symbolism: Psychoanalysis in the Context of Oncology. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 28,267-292.   Emanuel, L. (2021). Psychodynamic contributions to palliative care patients and their family members. In H. Schwartz (Ed.), Applying Psychoanalysis to Medical Care. New York: Routledge.    Hitchen, C. (2012). Mortality. New York: Hatchette Book Group.   Minerbo, V. (1998). The patient without a couch: An analysis of a patient with terminal cancer. Int. J. Psych-Anal., 79,83-93.   Norton, J. (1963). Treatment of a Dying Patient. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 18, 541-560   Didion, Joan: The Year of Magical Thinking. Vintage/Random House, 2007   Jaouad, Suleika: Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted; Random House, 2022.   Bloom, Amy: In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss;Random House, 2023.  

Jan Borowicz, PhD, dives into the emotional and social implications of violence, focusing on how eroticized violence can bind a group together. He explores the dynamics of bystanders during historical atrocities, challenging the perception of indifference and delving into themes of denial, pleasure in violence, and the impact on societal identity.

Psychoanalyst Sudhir Kakar discusses the influence of Hindu-Indian culture on psychoanalysis, challenging Freudian principles. He explores spiritual experiences, the enchantment of the world, and the inadequacy of awareness. The conversation delves into the impact of cultural factors on psyche development and the contrast between Western and Indian perspectives. Kakar's personal journey from idealizing Western thinking to embracing his Hindu roots is highlighted, emphasizing the significance of cultural diversity in understanding human psyche.

Jan Johansson, a psychologist and training supervisor at the Therapeia Institute in Helsinki, delves into the evolution of psychoanalysis in Finland. He highlights the journey from foreign training in the 50s to the 2012 government reform of psychoanalytic education. Differences in theoretical backgrounds influence clinical practice, while sauna culture intertwines with these psychoanalytic traditions. Johansson also discusses the current landscape of psychoanalysts and the significant role of training analysis in maintaining integrity amidst evolving educational frameworks.