On Bion's analysis with Rickman

Abstract

Conci's essay gives us a glimpse into the personal and emotional qualities of Rickman, the man, whom Bion would have encountered in the course of his first analysis. These “non-technical,” human qualities must have proved particularly helpful to Bion, who, as a young psychiatrist, entered analysis still suffering from the traumatic effects of his experiences as a tank commander during World War I. It is hypothesized that Rickman's “inner stillness” and generosity, his willingness to place his own self in the service of the needs of others, not only proved therapeutic for Bion, but also found their way into Bion's later conceptualization of the process of containment.

Keywords:

• history of psychoanalysis
• war trauma
• containment