Discussion of Richard Geist’s “Interpretation as Carrier of Selfobject Functions: Catalyzing Inborn Potential”

ABSTRACT

The author’s discussion of Dick Geist’s article on interpretation as a carrier of selfobject functions starts with a description of how the concept of interpretation has evolved since Freud. It continues with how the theory of normal development offered by Kohut and elaborated by Marian Tolpin dovetails with how Geist understands the mutative power of interpretation. The author compares Geist’s understanding of disruption and repair with Ernest Wolf’s and elaborates on Geist’s focus on the intrapsychic in contrast to the interpersonal. How Geist’s concepts of connectedness and permeable boundaries facilitate the necessary conditions for interpretations to be effective is underscored and the process by which we help people move from a focus on external people and events to a focus on their internal experience is elaborated as the heart of what gives individuals the power to impact and make lasting changes in their lives. Ultimately, what the author sees Geist as offering is a new understanding of the therapeutic action of interpretation.

KEYWORDS:

• Interpretation
• selfobject functions
• therapeutic action
• intrapsychic vs. interpersonal
• lasting change

Notes

¹ For a fuller discussion and illustration of this point, see Gardner (2019).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jill R. Gardner

Jill R. Gardner, Ph.D., is a psychologist in private practice in Chicago. She is a Faculty Member in the Postgraduate Education Program of the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, a Member of the International Council and ex officio Member of the Executive Board of the International Association of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, and an Associate Editor of Psychoanalysis, Self and Context.