The Legacies of Shaming Psychoanalytic Candidates

* An earlier version of this paper was presented at Symposium 2006 Journals Conference on Shame, March 5, New York City.

Abstract

Given that analytic training involves profound self-examination, self-exposure, and personal and professional assessment, it should come as no surprise that candidates often suffer from anxious shame. To what extent should we consider shame inevitable, and perhaps even a necessary aspect of the training process? What constructive uses might it have? What are the sources of shame in analytic training, and how might unnecessary, deleterious shame be avoided? The long-term consequences of inducing shame in candidates are considered. Shame in training can have a tremendous impact on the analyst's professional identity, ambition, and personal sense of worth.

Keywords:

• shame
• analytic training
• supervision
• anxious shame
• supervisory countertransference
• analytic identity
• professional worth

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sandra Buechler

Sandra Buechler, Ph.D., is a Training and Supervising Analyst and Faculty, William Alanson White Institute; and Clinical Supervisor, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.