Empathic Attunement

The 'Technique' of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology

By (author) Crayton Rowe, David Mac Isaac

Publication date:

01 March 1989

Length of book:

322 pages

Publisher

Jason Aronson, Inc.

ISBN-13: 9780876688571

Empathic Attunement captures the essence of Kohut's contributions to self psychology and the mental health field. Straightforward, accurate, and practical, the authors introduce student and experienced clinician alike to the synthesis of Kohut's major concepts and their clinical applications. The authors highlight Kohut's emphasis on the empathic mode of data gathering from within the patient's experiences. Kohut considers empathy—the capacity to think and feel oneself into the inner life of another person—to be the major tool of therapy.

Chapter 1
Chapter I: Understanding from the Vantage Point of the Patient's Experience
Chapter 2 Kohut the Man
Chapter 3 Empathy?Its Definition and Functions
Chapter 4 The Selfobject Concept and Selfobject Transference
Chapter 5 Stages in the Development of the Self
Chapter 6
Chapter II: Treatment in Self Psychology
Chapter 7 Transmuting Internalization
Chapter 8 Mental Health and Illness
Chapter 9 The Place of Drives in Self Psychology
Chapter 10 Defense and Resistance
Chapter 11 Dreams
Chapter 12 The Curative Process
Chapter 13
Chapter III: Clinical Applications of Self Psychology
Chapter 14 Kohut's Two Analyses of Mr. Z.
Chapter 15 Treatment of a Narcissistic Personality Disorder: The Case of Ms. O.
Chapter 16 Expanding Attunement to the Patient's Shifting Experience: The Case of Ms. O.
Chapter 17 Development of the Therapeutic Process: The Case of Ms. O.
Chapter 18 More Specific Understanding: The Case of Ms. O.
Chapter 19 Treatment of a Borderline Personality Disorder: The Case of Mr. V.
Chapter 20 Development of the Therapeutic Process: The Case of Mr. V.
Chapter 21 More Specific Understanding: The Case of Mr. V.
Chapter 22 The Empathic-Introspective Approach

Empathic Attunement carefully leads the reader from the earliest of Kohut's observations through the newly developing theory and into detailed case reports. . . . At the same time, the thoughts of the treating clinician provide a running commentarythat is invaluable in demonstrating the constant and fertile interplay between theory and practice, or, in Kohutian terms, between understanding and explaining. In an admirably self-revealing manner that does not hide countertransferences, the authors invite the reader to learn by empathic participation. This is a book that will appeal to beginners and to experienced practitioners alike. It can be recommended to all...