Considering the Intersubjective Perspective of Therapeutic Action

Abstract

The concept of therapeutic action among most schools of psychoanalysis has solidly progressed from the original Freudian catharsis-insight model to an intersubjective-insight perspective. This article will focus on the re-conceptualizations of therapeutic action that have evolved over the past 80 years in interpersonal psychoanalysis and among many other psychoanalytic orientations. A clinical example will follow to illustrate an intersubjective-insight model of therapeutic action.

Keywords:

• therapeutic action
• intersubjective
• insight
• Levenson
• projective identification
• developmental theory

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Pasqual J. Pantone

Pasqual J. Pantone, Ph.D., is a past Director, Training and Supervising Psychoanalyst, and Faculty of the Psychoanalytic Program, William Alanson White Institute in New York City. In addition, he is a Co-Founder, Former Co-Director, Supervisor, and Faculty of the Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Training Program, also at the W.A. White Institute. He is the co-author of Relational Child Psychotherapy, Other Press, 2002.