Class in psychodynamic theory, research and practice

Abstract

Class is a generally neglected topic within the psychotherapeutic and counselling worlds, and has not benefitted from the psychoanalytic and psychodynamic thought arising from contemporary critiques concerning gender, sexuality, and race. The article presents an overview of my researches over many years in an attempt to formulate the different ways in which considerations of class may impinge on practices and theories in the therapeutic professions. I use a clinical vignette to identify class related issues that may arise within the consulting room, and relate these to wider aspects of the intersections of class with therapy and counselling.

Keywords:

• class
• shame
• clinical practice
• exclusion
• working class
• middle class

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Joanna Ryan

Joanna Ryan Ph.D. is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, researcher and supervisor. She is author of the recent Class and Psychoanalysis: Landscapes of Inequality and co-author with N.O'Connor of Wild Desires and Mistaken Identities: Lesbianism and Psychoanalysis.