Holding and Psychoanalysis: A Relational Approach (Relational Perspectives Books) [Hardcover]

Joyce Anne Slochower (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0881632007 | ISBN-13: 978-0881632002

This work addresses holding in a variety of clinical contexts and focuses especially on holding processes in relation to issues of dependence, self-involvement, and hate.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dr. Slochower has creatively expanded and deepened Winnicott's concept of holding to include a variety of difficult relational contexts -- contexts in which the patient needs the analyst to struggle to contain and silently process his or her subjectivity.  Holding and Psychoanalysis is a first-rate integration of theory and practice."

- Lawrence Epstein, Ph.D., Training Analyst, William Alanson White Institute

"Holding, a concept long in the background of clinical work, is elevated by Dr. Slochower to an impressive foreground position.  She carefully delineates the complexity of the holding construct in a wide variety of difficult clinical situations, always attending, as well, to the analyst's subjective experience during interludes of holding.  The ubiquity and power of the holding theme are deepened by her relational perspective, which emphasizes the patient's and analyst's interrelated struggles around holding issues in the context of an evolving collaborative therapeutic process."

- James S. Grotstein, M.D., Training Analyst, Los Angeles Psychoanalytic Institute

"In this scholarly and beautifully written book, Joyce Slochower raises a provocative and challenging question for relational analysts: Are there times when the therapist's subjective experience should be consciously and purposefully kept out of the therapeutic dialogue?  Rich in complex and evocative clinical detail, Holding and Psychoanalysis is bound to create impassioned discussion and to challenge many preestablished modes of thinking."

- Jody Messler Davies, Ph.D., Editor, Psychoanalytic Dialogues

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (August 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881632007
• ISBN-13: 978-0881632002
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,991,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Contemporary Perspective on Holding in Clinical Work, December 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Holding and Psychoanalysis: A Relational Approach (Relational Perspectives Books) (Hardcover)

This excellent book represents a sophisticated integration of theory and clinical practice. It offers both dynamically oriented therapists and psychoanalysts a framework that is especially helpful in working with extremely difficult patients who do not respond to standard therapy technique. Slochower uses the notion of holding to describe the therapist's attempt to contain the patient's intense affective responses as well as the therapists struggle to hold himself. Slochower extends holding beyond Winnicott's conception of regression by 1)applying the model to work with borderline and narcissistic patients and 2)by addressing the therapist's participation in the holding process from a relational perspective. Her book is replete with rich clinical examples, illustrating the use of holding with patients struggling with issues of dependence, self involvement, ruthlessness and hate. Throughout the text, she also discusses instances in which the holding stance failed, and carefully addresses the clinical pitfalls of work within a holding metaphor. An especially interesting chapter addresses the holding theme outside the consulting room, in Jewish mourning ritual. A 'must read' for the contemporary clinician, whether of Freudian, Interpersonal, Self Psychological or Relational persuasion.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars contemporary psychoanalysis, December 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Holding and Psychoanalysis: A Relational Approach (Relational Perspectives Books) (Hardcover)

Unusually lucid, clinically relevant and rich descriptions of difficult patient situations. Theoretically useful update on Winnicott's work on holding. Highly recommended for therapists working with difficult patients.