Till Death Do Us Part

In this article, the termination of analysis is examined from the vantage point of the analyst. The nature of the bond that analysts form with their patients is explored, as well as the extent to which this bond interferes with their capacity to facilitate the process of terminating the analysis. Patients with severe psychopathology cannot be expected to terminate their analyses the same way neurotics do. Both analysts and patients must come to terms with their unrealistic expectations of themselves and of the healing powers of psychoanalysis in order to avoid an interminable and unproductive process.