Putting the Psychoanalytic Frame to Work: Why it Matters

Psychoanalysis is not just about what happens in the room – it is also about the structure that holds it all together. In Putting the Psychoanalytic Frame to Work, Allannah Furlong rethinks one of the traditional approaches to the analytic frame, arguing that disruptions – missed sessions, consent complexities, and third-party demands – are not necessarily obstacles but can be essential moments for deepening therapeutic insight. The book argues for a benevolent expectation of "trouble" as an inherent part of the therapeutic couple getting to know each other more deeply, and as an aspect which distinguishes the psychoanalytic frame from that usually taught by professional regulatory bodies. Furlong proposes that the analyst or psychoanalytic therapist welcome framework glitches as opportunities to "put the framework to work" rather than simply disposing of them as acting out or error. In so doing, the book invites clinicians to critically examine different theoretical approaches to the framework and its inevitable breaches. A why-to rather than a how-to book, Putting the Psychoanalytic Frame to Work aims to invigorate the practice of analysts everywhere – both seasoned and in training.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1. Why it matters 2. When the frame groans and putting it to work 3. Informed consent in psychoanalysis 4. The framework offers as an identificatory project 5. The shared suffering of the missed session 6. Lessons learned about confidentiality in psychoanalytic work 7. Concluding notes

About the Author :
Allannah Furlong is a psychoanalyst based in Canada. She is a member of the Société psychanalytique de Montréal, and is coeditor of previous books including Confidentiality: Ethical Perspectives and Clinical Dilemmas (Routledge). She has authored numerous articles treating individual aspects of the classical framework and was awarded the JAPA Prize for excellence in psychoanalytic scholarship.

Review :
“The frame 'groans,' observes Furlong, as she explores it in fresh and frank detail, with special appreciation of its dynamic quality, a breathing skin more than a locked, invariant container, an attitude, an offer, that both insists on the frame while remaining astutely poised to examine its inevitable breaches and revisions. As she plumbs the framework of the treatment, Furlong provides a clear rationale for psychoanalysis itself. This is an enriching must-read for students and experienced analysts alike.” Dr Arthur Leonoff, Ph.D., Supervising and Training Analyst, Canadian Psychoanalytic Society; Chair of the International New Groups Committee of the IPA “Any psychoanalytic practitioner whose own work leads them to serious reflection on the frame/setting will find Dr Furlong’s discussion illuminating, original, thought-provoking, refreshing, and helpful. Describing it as a 'why-to' rather than a 'how-to' book, she combines clear theoretical considerations with close attention to clinical details. Examined in particular depth are problems of consent and assent, the special character of the initial encounter and analytic offer, the meanings of missed sessions, and psychoanalytic confidentiality. A book not to be missed.” -John Churcher, British Psychoanalytical Society