Managing strain in a classical analysis: re-establishing the therapeutic relationship or interpreting unconscious wishes

The therapeutic relationship frequently comes under a strain during the course of an analysis. At these times, the analysand perceives and reacts to the analyst as if the analyst were a critical or seductive archaic object. When this occurs, the analyst has the choice of interpreting the unconscious source of the analysand's non-therapeutic reactions or of interacting with the analysand in a manner which re-establishes and potentially strengthens the therapeutic relationship. Interpretations during the early phases of an analysis are unlikely to mitigate the strain until the therapeutic relationship has become stronger and until considerable reality testing has promoted a context which allows the analysand to understand and to tolerate her or his unconscious wishes.