The other between fear and desire – countertransference fantasy as a bridge between me and the other

This paper attempts to show how unrepresented rupture/injury of primary expectations of the early relationship is reactivated in the analytic process. This becomes perceptible especially as unconscious fear and a specific defence described as ‘living behind a glass-wall’. The author, however, postulates the existence of an inherent dialogical-dyadic principle in the psyche, which she calls archetypal hope, and shows how this principle may become active in the analytical space. These aspects of analytical treatments are sketched with two vignettes, in which unconscious processes of exchange cause the analyst to experience unrepresented states. The author describes how the analyst is gradually able to experience and understand this, and how this understanding finally – without first becoming explicit – becomes effective in the analytical space. Special attention is given to the analytic attitude. A readiness to accept and move into regression and a receptivity to attune to the early sensory experience of the analysand is regarded as essential. Through this the analyst gains access to the inner space of the analysand and, through bodily experience and pre-symbolic processes, the unrepresented may thus become figurable. The reverie and countertransference fantasies are understood as a bridge: they connect the analytic pair. However, the reverie also creates the transition between that which was not – the absent representation – and that which wants to emerge. It thus bridges the personal unconscious (implicit expectation) and the archetypal (the archetypal hope). Through this, the space of hope may become a space of possibility, and help bridge the chasm between the experienced and the hoped-for.     

Self,other and individuation: resolving narcissism through the lunar and solar paths of the Rosarium

This paper describes narcissism as our natural, infant-like behaviour, and specifies three characteristics relating to the evacuation and avoidance of distress, to control, and to distancing from relationship. It suggests that the processes of incarnation and individuation represent the development of the early ego and the ‘resolution’ of these narcissistic ways of being, including escape from the ‘mirror trap’. The development of the early, controlling ‘homunculus-ego’ entails the loosening and broadening of ego-identifications and the ego becoming subject to the Self. This is an embodied-relational-social-spiritual process outlined in detail by the full 20 woodcuts of the Rosarium Philosophorum, and specifically the lunar (relational) and solar (self-expressive) paths, which are explored herein. These processes are illustrated with respect to the interaction between infant and caregiver, clinical vignettes and examples from the political sphere.     

Healing cultural trauma and its application to the Router programme

This paper explores the issue of cultural trauma, which is an area of concern in psychology generally and has emerged as one within the International Association for Analytical Psychology’s Router training programme. A summary of responses to the issues of cultural trauma and complexes (alongside cultural differences) within analytical psychology are presented, followed by an overview of findings from the IAAP’s evaluation of the Router training programme. These findings are then aligned with contemporary sociological research. The significant issues involved in healing cultural trauma seem to be ‘working through’, as well as the place of imagination, dreamwork, symbolism and metaphor. Research in Poland has specifically highlighted the importance of good governance, economic vitality, personal and social capital (as in education and social participation), a meaning system, certain external contingencies, channels of mobility and ritualism.     

“To g or not to g?” — Analysis of the dimensional structure of a cognitive abilities’ battery

Over the past century there has been an extensive debate in Psychology over whether intelligence structure is best represented through a single general ability, multiple specific abilities, or a hierarchical structure of abilities. This study aims at contributing to this debate through an analysis of the dimensional structure of a cognitive abilities’ battery aiming to evaluate, in combination, differentiated cognitive processes of increasing complexity (comprehension, reasoning, and problem solving) through items of different contents (verbal, numerical, and spatial). A Portuguese representative sample of 2546 adolescents enrolled in secondary education participated in the study. Confirmatory factor analyses were carried out and the results showed that: (1) the hierarchical model is the only presenting an acceptable fit to the data (RMSEA = .07; CFI = .96; TLI = .92), (2) the existence of specific factors cannot be neglected, and (3) contents of the subtests assume relevance to explain the levels of adolescents’ cognitive performance. These results are discussed taking into account the contribution of school experience for the development and differentiation of adolescents’ cognitive abilities.     

Typology,the eight-function model,and archetypal complexes

This clinical presentation shows what insights a typology-conscious analysis of clients and their families may lead to and points out what is added by applying John Beebe’s eight-function, eight-archetype model. To reflect on the inner balance between archetypal complexes in the eight-function structure that holds our psyche, the author invites clients to do a typological analysis, including an analysis of their archetypal patterns, which may, itself, provoke anxiety. This article includes a presentation of ideas and experiences sparked when confronting these complexes in clinical work. Clients are introduced to six stages of coping with stress that may allow them to be more conscious of their complexes when triggered. These stages are Faint, Freeze, Flight, Fidget, Fight, and Flow. To identify whether the stress is physiological, emotional, or intellectual, the idea of the Triune Brain is introduced. The therapeutic work may lead to redemption from opposites, which is an ethical task.     

Le burnout chez les infirmières en cancérologie : Une approche contextuelle du modèle exigences-contrôle-soutien

The current investigation, studying the burnout among oncology nurses, was guided by the Demand Control Support model (Karasek & Theorell, 1990). However, in accordance with scholars claiming for a context-specificity in occupational stress research, we first conducted 3 semi-structured focus groups to identify the specific sources of demands, control and support experienced by oncology nurses. The scale established from this analysis, (as well the other study variables), had been answered by 144 oncology nurses. Factorial analyses revealed 4 latent factors: “job demands”, “patient demands”, “support” and “control”. Then, hierarchical regression analyses indicated that job demands, control and support predicted significant proportions of burnout, in particular emotional exhaustion. We also observed a moderator effect of social support. Furthermore, the situation-specific stressors, that is, those relating to difficult relationships with patients, made significant contributions to burnout, supporting the claim of augmenting the components of the Demand Control Support model with stressors that are more situation- specific.     

Rapports au travail, contrôle et santé dans les centres de gestion de la relation-client

The main objective of the present research was to analysis the organizational work and health in call centre. In facts, it proves that this specific professional activity produces so much effects on the level call centre agents (violence, perceived stress, perceived health, musculoskeletal disorder symptoms, intention to quit, satisfaction), that at the organizational level (turnover, lower quality, lowers performances). So, the evolution of the career, the organizational support, the participation in the decisions or the type of management produce a positive effects at the same time, on the worker and the organization (job satisfaction, implication, better real or perceived performances well-being, job involvement, better quality of life, lower turnover or absenteeism…). Lastly, we propose a model of analysis of strain at the work which integrates emotional exhaustion and the depersonalization.     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to treat chronic insomnia

IntroductionAs having positive effects on reducing distress and symptoms associated with different mental and physical disorders, many studies have focused on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.ObjectiveIt is suggested that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) could help reducing insomnia by focusing on certain cognitive factors associated to insomnia.MethodA pre-experimental, pre-test protocol with a post-test and three month follow-up was used to measure the effect of a group intervention of eight sessions and 12 participants.ResultsThe intervention had a positive effect on participants’ subjective evaluation regarding their sleep and the gains were maintained after three months. However, after the intervention, no significant effect was found on the objective measures of sleep. Two factors associated to the maintenance of insomnia, such as dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep and mental control strategies were improved following treatment and these improvements were maintained during the follow-up.ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy might be an interesting addition in the treatment of insomnia, given that it focuses on certain cognitive factors that contribute to the maintenance of insomnia.     

The use of Skype in analysis and training: a research and literature review

Of recent years there has not only been an increasing use of Skype in analytic treatment, supervision and teaching, but also a number of writers have been endeavouring to assess its effectiveness. Whilst it is generally agreed that Skype can facilitate an analytic encounter where distance prohibits a face‐to‐face process, where continuity needs to be maintained and where analysands are in areas far from specialized centres, there is divergence in the literature as to whether analysis, as opposed to psychotherapy, can be successful using Skype. This paper reviews the literature and concludes that the essentials of a genuine analytic process are not necessarily precluded by Skype. One central reason is because there exists a cross‐modal communication channel between the human senses (underpinned by audiovisual mirror neurons) in addition to the recently discovered instinct for communication and interpersonal understanding, and these can override the need for physical proximity of the participants. The essentials of an analytic frame can thus be maintained, and the continuity that Skype enables means that containment is also facilitated and this counters the negative aspects of shuttle analysis. The critical issues for the profession then become the professional development for practitioners in the use of Skype and suggestions are listed.