Reflections on the Therapeutic Action of Desire

Abstract

When feelings of love and desire for an external object are so powerful that they distract from the treatment relationship or manifest as an erotic transference, they can undermine or destroy an analysis. Likewise, when the analyst's erotic responses are more than he or she can tolerate, acting out can prove fatal. Conversely, when the erotic is contained, desire can become an important part of the therapeutic action. An extended clinical example is presented to explore these themes and related variables of repressed and liberated desire as well as the connection between age and erotic longing.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

With great appreciation to Galit Atlas and Hillary Grill for their important contributions.

Notes

¹Although there are subtle and not-so-subtle semantic differences, at various points in this article I use the terms (erotic) desire, hunger, and longing interchangeably.