Interpersonal Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Relevance, Dismissal and Self-Definition [Paperback]

Arthur H. Feiner (Author), Edgar A. Levenson (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2000

The themes of relevance (or acceptance) and dismissal (are central to our relations with other people and, therefore to our concept of identity. These themes of relevance and dismissal pervade the author's exploration of the core ideas of interpersonal psychoanalysis and his use of them in his clinical practice.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Arthur H. Fernier Ph.D., ABPP, had been a practicing psychoanalyst for more than 45 years. He is a graduate of the William A. White Institute, New York, where he was Chairman of Fellows for six years and editor of the institute's journal, Contemporary Psychoanalysis, for twenty-five. The author of many articles on psychoanalysis, he co-edited the book Countertransference with L. Epstein. At present he is training and supervising analyst at the White Institute.

Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Pub; 1 edition (November 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853028649
• ISBN-13: 978-1853028649
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,240,359 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Book to Read, July 23, 2001

By 

Lori Fiorella - See all my reviews

This review is from: Interpersonal Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Relevance, Dismissal and Self-Definition (Paperback)

Most books on psychoanalysis, its theory or its process, are packed with abstract, esoteric lingo that's far away from how people feel or express themselves. This one is different in that it's of the "she - I said" vaiety, and at the same time presents a pot full of insight about patients that really rings true. Dr. Levenson, in a truly lucid foreword, pegs Dr. Feiner just right-a rare combination of the shades of Isaiah Berlin and Zorba the Greek. The book is erudite, scholarly, and quite articulate (ocassionally Feiner will drive you maddeningly to the dictionary), and downright humorous, at times, all in the service of trying to capture precisely what goes on in interpersonal psychoanalysis, and how people might change. In a section detailing the interpersonal therapeutic interaction he reveals his wit and playfulness, along with his analytic wisdom. It is an area of psychotherapy that isn't written about usually. But the high point of this profound book is to demonstrate how authentic psychoanalysis is clearly non-adversarial and non-advice giving, but genuine analyses of the patient, the analyst himself, and their interaction. The title gives away the significant themes dealt with: relevance, dismissal and self-definition. It's a well written, translucent, amlpy illustrated book about real psychoanalystic therapy. You get the feeling you'd like to be in therapy with Dr. Feiner (if the fee wasn't too high). A good book. Give it to your therapist for Christmas.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Book to Read, July 23, 2001

By 

Lori Fiorella - See all my reviews

This review is from: Interpersonal Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Relevance, Dismissal and Self-Definition (Paperback)

Most books on psychoanalysis, its theory or its process, are packed with abstract, esoteric lingo that's far away from how people feel or express themselves. This one is different in that it's of the "she - I said" vaiety, and at the same time presents a pot full of insight about patients that really rings true. Dr. Levenson, in a truly lucid foreword, pegs Dr. Feiner just right-a rare combination of the shades of Isaiah Berlin and Zorba the Greek. The book is erudite, scholarly, and quite articulate (ocassionally Feiner will drive you maddeningly to the dictionary), and downright humorous, at times, all in the service of trying to capture precisely what goes on in interpersonal psychoanalysis, and how people might change. In a section detailing the interpersonal therapeutic interaction he reveals his wit and playfulness, along with his analytic wisdom. It is an area of psychotherapy that isn't written about usually. But the high point of this profound book is to demonstrate how authentic psychoanalysis is clearly non-adversarial and non-advice giving, but genuine analyses of the patient, the analyst himself, and their interaction. The title gives away the significant themes dealt with: relevance, dismissal and self-definition. It's a well written, translucent, amlpy illustrated book about real psychoanalystic therapy. You get the feeling you'd like to be in therapy with Dr. Feiner (if the fee wasn't too high). A good book. Give it to your therapist for Christmas.

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a smidgin of bull about a complex topic, November 4, 2003

By 

Gerald Weinreb (New York, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Interpersonal Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Relevance, Dismissal and Self-Definition (Paperback)

This is a refreshing change (albeit dense occasionally) among books about an extremely complex, and hard to understand topic, psychoanalysis. The essentials in the relationship between the analyst and her or his patient are spelled out, as what is necessary for the patient to change ( if so courageously desired). I wish I had had Feiner as an analyst.He's erudite, has a great sense of humor, and treats his patients as though they are as well read as he. If one isn't, then being with him gets one to become curious about the world as well as oneself. Feiner surely doesn't suffer from and assault us with those three osities: pomp,preci and verb. I hope the W. A. White Institute which trained him, graduates more like him.