The Craft of the Psychodynamic Case Study: A Practical Guide is the first comprehensive guide to help clinicians transform their therapeutic experiences into compelling, meaningful case narratives that honor both clinical truth and literary craft.
Every therapist faces the challenge of translating profound clinical experiences into coherent written case studies. This groundbreaking guide bridges a critical gap in professional training, offering practical tools for crafting compelling narratives while maintaining ethical boundaries and theoretical integrity. The book explores five major psychoanalytic approaches—Klein, Bion, Winnicott, Kohut, and Relational—each with specific writing strategies. Rich with clinical examples, it guides practitioners through diverse phenomena, from Klein’s manic repair and envy, through Bion’s alpha function and reverie, to relational self-disclosure. Readers learn to develop their narrative voice, structure long-term therapy into phases, write about transference and countertransference, and navigate confidentiality challenges.
More than a technical guide, this book revolutionizes how we think about case studies as creative non-fiction, introducing the concept of “responsible creativity” that empowers clinicians to move beyond formulaic reports. Perfect for psychodynamic psychotherapists and mental health practitioners at all levels writing cases for exams, publications, conferences, team presentations, or personal reflection.
Table of Contents:
Introduction Part 1: The Essentials - Foundations of Clinical Writing 1. The Prelude to Psychodynamic Case Studies: What to Know Before Writing 2. Navigating the Maze: Overcoming Challenges of Psychodynamic Writing 3. The Formal Sections of a Complete Case Study 4. The Therapist as Storyteller: Weaving Clinical Wisdom Into Narrative Art 5. Confidentiality Strategies Part 2: The Specifics 6. A Case Study in the Spirit of Melanie Klein 7. A Case Study in the Spirit of Wilfred Bion 8. A Case Study in the Spirit of Donald Winnicott 9. A Case Study in the Spirit of Heinz Kohut and Self-psychology 10. A Case Study in the Spirit of the Relational Approach Concluding Remarks: Beyond Traditional Written Reports
About the Author :
Aner Govrin, PhD, is a psychoanalyst, philosopher, and clinical psychologist. He is the director of a doctoral program, “Psychoanalysis and Hermeneutics,” at The Program for Hermeneutics & Cultural Studies, Bar-Ilan University. He is a Tel-Aviv Institute for Contemporary Psychoanalysis (TAICP) member and Editor of the series Routledge Introductions to Contemporary Psychoanalysis.
Review :
‘The Craft of Psychodynamic Case Study: Theory and Practice is an essential companion for any clinician looking to transform therapeutic experience into a compelling narrative. With a perfect blend of theoretical insight and hands-on guidance, Aner Govrin leads readers through the art of writing psychoanalytic case studies, drawing from diverse schools of thought—from Klein to Kohut to the relational approach. More than just a manual, this book delves into the emotional and creative challenges of case writing, introducing the concept of 'responsible creativity'—a way to harness imagination ethically while staying true to clinical reality. It also dares to ask: Could therapy be captured not just in words, but through art, film, or dance? This fresh perspective expands how we communicate the depth of our work. Writing a case isn’t just documentation; it’s a second analysis, unlocking new layers of understanding. I strongly recommend this book as an indispensable resource for anyone eager to refine their clinical voice, break through creative barriers, and bring the richness of the therapeutic experience to life on the page.’
Giuseppe Civitarese, author of The Limits of Interpretation: Essays on Bion and Field Theory, London 2025
‘This comprehensive, accessible guide fills a yawning gap in the clinical literature: psychotherapists have long needed a framework for writing evocatively about their patients. Aner Govrin walks them through the daunting challenge of capturing in words all that a patient has conveyed through verbal description, imagery, dreams, body language, emotional expression, and behavior. The book belongs in the libraries of all students of psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapy and on the desks of all experienced practitioners who want to write about individuality in treatment.’
Nancy McWilliams, PhD, ABPP, Visiting Professor Emerita, Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology
‘Virtually all forms of psychotherapy are, at one and the same time, procedures designed to relieve suffering and deeply personal relationships that engage the most intimate aspects of our shared humanity. Communicating what we do to colleagues and students, honoring the ambiguities that shape our work, capturing its ineffable edge, all the while protecting the privacy of our patients, has vexed clinicians forever. Aner Govrin’s Practical Guide” takes on this daunting task and accomplishes it. His book is required reading for anybody who thinks about writing about – or thinking about – our work, and that means anybody who practices psychotherapy.’
Jay Greenberg, PhD, Training and Supervising Analyst, William Alanson White Institute, Recipient, 2015 Mary S. Sigourney Award for Outstanding Contribution to Psychoanalysis
‘When psychodynamic treatment concludes, practitioners continue their involvement in writing a case study. As study implies, they reconstruct the mental process undergone by both patient and therapist, not just their visible behavior. Aner Govrin animates the writing process for practitioners of all levels and theoretical orientations. Freud once said the psychodynamic case study resembled more a short story than science. Govrin, teaching the tradition in its modern incarnations, shows us why it must retain that form, while embodying one of the most exacting exercises anyone can undertake.’
Susan Sugarman, Princeton University
