Afterward: Keeping Analysis Alive Over Time

Abstract

Development of a self-analytic function has historically been a goal of psychoanalysis. This article draws on interviews with former analysands to examine ways in which self-exploration continued after analysis. Former analysands who did not report ongoing self-exploration had not necessarily failed to benefit from analysis, nor had they not continued to benefit and grow after analysis ended. The author reflects on different ways of assimilating the analytic process and the analytic relationship, and self-analysis as a criterion by which to judge the success of analytic outcome is reconsidered.

• Termination
• post-analytic contact
• self-analysis
• insight
• analytic relationship
• analytic outcome
• research
• change in analysis
• analysts’
• personal analyses
• theory
• dream analysis
• self-reflection