Working With a Dying Patient and the Power of the Patient Analyst Bond. Issue 2 (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Allan, Margaret
• Is Part Of: Psychoanalysis, self and context. Volume 12:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 131
• Page End: 143
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: bond -- death -- difference -- dying -- mutuality -- sameness -- trauma -- twinship; Psychoanalysis -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Self psychology -- Periodicals; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1080/24720038.2017.1289752
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2472-0038

Abstract

Abstract : In this article, I attempt to describe the enduring bond between patient and analyst that enables the patient to move towards her own death. I look at the twinship selfobject experience as a key vehicle whereby the patient and analyst continually find each other in the other. I discuss the relevance of twinship as the key bond for emotionally "surviving" traumatic loss. I use personal vignettes to best describe the phenomenology of the experience and best illustrate the sense of that finding of each in the other.