Every now and then I like to get playful with the serious parts of life and laugh at myself, my foibles, my judgments, and my blind spots. And here comes Holly Housman Friedman’s very thoughtful article in the October 2011 issue of FOCUS, about Psychoanalysis—“On Becoming a Psychoanalyst.” And I had just about given up on that form of treatment or personal exploration as being outdated, overpriced and inaccessible. But Holly made it come alive when she said, “It liberates patients from neurotic patterns, helps them make better choices, addresses the blind spots and moves them to live their lives to the fullest potential.” Who would argue with that? So I am encouraging all readers to take another look at what I thought was an antiquated method of treatment or education. Pull out your October 2011 issue of FOCUS and get a refreshed view of psychoanalysis.
I took my interest to the next level when I was in New York a couple of weeks ago and went to see the longest running off-Broadway Play- Freud’s Last Session. This was a ‘fictionalized’ session between Freud and C.S. Lewis after the war when Freud had settled in England. The two hammered out their different points of view about religion, life, government, tyranny and love. The dialogue was tight, pithy and substantive. After the play, I had my own session with Freud, as you can see. Just for fun
Carol J. Trust
“It liberates patients from neurotic patterns, helps them make better choices, addresses the blind spots and moves them to live their lives to the fullest potential.”
ReplyDeleteSounds good, but saying it doesn't make it so! How many arrogant narcissists do you know who have had years of psychoanalysis? I have known quite a few.