Toward an Emancipatory Psychoanalysis

"Bernard Brandchaft defines `emancipatory as `the analyst's capacity to liberate his own vision of what is true or best for his patient' This tascinating volume recounts his personal and intellectual odyssey in an attempt to achieve that emancipation. His case histories, with which the book is richly supplied explore systems of pathological accommodation in the lives of his patients and illustrate them in his descriptions of clinical process. Readers are privileged to join the authors in a dialogue about the development and application of Brandchaft's intersubjective vision."---Robert Michels, M.D., Joint Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Psychoanalysis

For nearly three decades, Bernard Brandchaft has been developing an emancipatory vision in psychoanalysis, This vision reaches a stunning culmination in Toward an Emancipatory Psychoanalysis. He deftly illuminates the pervasiveness of accommodative patterns in a wide range of clinical phenomena and problems, and shows us how these patterns must be carefully investigated in order to facilitate therapeutic change. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking to expand the domain of human freedom and emotional authenticity."---Robert D. Stolorow, Ph.D., author, Trauma and Human Existence

"This is a most important book and, in its own way, a triumph. It describes the fruits of a highly creative career trajectory which has traversed in turn the main theories underpinning psychoanalytic practice to emerge with a new view of fundamental therapeutic significance. His conceptualization of systems of pathological accommodation is an innovation of major `importance, offering a paradigm shift in the way traumatic phenomena are to be understood."---Russell Meares, M.D., Emeritus Professor, University of Sydney

"A paradigm change lies within this book. Read it in depth and you will realize that Brandchaft is trying to emancipate psychoanalysis from its entrenched notions about why we humans are so prone to repeat our most painful, self-defeating patterns Shelley , Doctors and Dorienne Sorter beautifully capture how Brandchaft's highly disciplined clinical approach is essential to the liberating aspects of his thinking. Read Brandchaft with them and you may emancipate your own thinking and clinical practice."---Malcolm Owen Stavih, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute for Psychoanalysis

"This outstanding book illuminates the crucial contribution of Bernard Brandchaft to contemporary psychoanalysis: systems of pathological accommodation, the traumatic relatedness in the development of human mind, a reconsideration of the intersubjective field Every analyst and therapist interested tn a contemporary clinical approach will find in this book an indispensable companion both in answering many questions and formulating new perspectives."---Gianni Nebbiosi, Ph.D., President and Co-founder, ISIPSe, Rome