The Analyst's Idealization of the Patient: On Not Seeing the Dark Side

Abstract

There is a large body of literature on the patient's idealization of the analyst. Much less is written about the reverse: the analyst's idealization of the patient. This article argues that this imbalance stems not from the infrequency of the latter, but rather from its neglect. Psychoanalysts often unwittingly harbor valorized views of their patients. This subjective tilt may contribute to the therapeutic action, but it can also do harm. Aspects of the analyst's engagement contributing to this phenomenon include the caregiving behavioral system, love, and emotional immersion. These can augment and obscure cocreated transference/countertransference enactments entailing idealization of the patient. The supervision and self-supervision of analysts should include awareness of this tendency.

Keywords:

• idealization
• countertransference
• enactment
• self-supervision
• caregiving
• love

Acknowledgments

I am grateful to Drs. Martin Frommer and Dominick Grundy for invaluable advice and support. A portion of this article was presented to the Society of the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy on April 22, 2012.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amy Schaffer

Amy Schaffer, Ph.D., is on the faculty and a supervisor at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy and at the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center.