The analyst's professional self as a “third”; influence on the dyad when the analyst writes about the treatment

Abstract

The analyst's identification with his or her profession and its ethos may profoundly influence the patient's treatment in subtle and less subtle ways. A particularly noteworthy instance of this is the impact of the patient's knowing that he or she is the subject of the analyst's writings. I present illustrative material from a patient in intensive psychotherapy who had pronounced reactions, especially evident in her dream imagery, to my having written about her. This material and the issues it highlights are discussed from the vantage point of the analyst's professional self and psychoanalytic discourse, which together constitute a “third”; dimension vis‐à‐vis the therapeutic relationship. I consider what a Lacan‐inspired perspective (Muller, 1996) might contribute to a relational understanding of the impact of the analyst's professional aspect.