The Technique and Practice of Psychoanalysis: Volume I

This systematic and comprehensive volume, written in a lively and clear style, is devoted essentially to the fundamentals of psychoanalytic technique: transference and resistance. Dr. Greenson approaches psychoanalytic technique from a classical theoretical framework, but he frequently gives an entirely fresh view of traditionally accepted procedures. His most important new contribution consists in the clear distinction between the patient's 'real relationship' to the analyst, the 'working alliance', and the transference relationship. His discussion of the contradictory and often conflicting demands which each of these elements makes on the technical skills of the analyst is particularly illuminating. In many fascinating case illustrations, he shows how the analyst carries out therapeutic psychoanalysis while respecting the diversity of psychic constellations in different patients and at different points in their analyses. This book can be recommended - without qualification - to the beginning student because of the thorough clarification and documentation of the basic principles of psychoanalytic technique. At the same time, experienced analysts and teachers will appreciate and be stimulated by Dr. Greenson's open-minded discussion of some unsolved problems and issues in psycho-analytic practice.

About the Author :
Ralph R. Greenson (1911-1979) was Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, a member of the American Psychoanalytic Association, and a Training Analyst at the Los Angeles Institute for Psychoanalysis. He was a former Dean of the Training School, past President of the Los Angeles Psychoanalytic Society, and former Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee, Foundation for Research in Psychoanalysis, Beverly Hills.

Review :
'An extraordinary combination of comprehensiveness, scope, and lucid theoretical underpinning with the most luminous clinical illustrations. There is little doubt that this promises to be the definitive work on psychoanalytic technique. There is fluidity and flexibility throughout which preclude any possibility of finding in this book a set of rules, or of accusing the author of rigidity or "orthodoxy".'-Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association'In this volume Greenson concentrates on the themes of resistance and transference. He says, and quite correctly, that "it is impossible to talk intelligibly in depth and in detail about any technical problem" without an adequate understanding of these topics. The treatment of these problems is clearer and more complete than any I have seen. Clinical examples are given in abundance. These are germane and remarkably candid.'-Contemporary Psychology'Bids fair to become the classic text on the subject. Even experienced analysts can learn much from his tempered discussions and sharp clinical examples.'-Psychiatric Quarterly'Seldom in psychoanalytic literature does one run across a book that is written with such clarity of style, freedom from jargon, or careful welding of practical treatment problems with underlying theory.'-Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic