On and off the Couch: Memoir of a Psychoanalyst

Loving, beautifully written work. The author helps us understand how she, a child of the Sixties, became the woman she is today. And in a series of luminous and evocative portraits she shows us how patients suffering from a broad range of maladies can be helped to gain insight into themselves and thus lead happier and more fulfilling lives.-Constance Rosenblum, author of Boulevard of Dre ams: Heady Times: Heartbreak, and Hope

Along the Grand Concourse in the Bronx When neither residence on an idyllic Greek island nor all-consuming romance can cure the restlessness of an empty self, Kolsky finds her way to the journey within, and she takes us along for the ride. This undaunted accounting from analysand to analyst is a testament to the enduring power of psychoanalysis to heal, and to the essential humanity we bring to the endeavor, whether on or off the couch.-Ashley Warner, MSW, LCSW, BCD-P, author, The Year After: A Memoir ＂In this jewel of a narrative of self-discovery, Beverly Kolsky takes us on a probing journey exploring the sweep of the psychoanalytic process in transforming her own life as well as her patients’. Those trying to decide whether psychoanalysis is for them will gain an appreciation of

its power, while those who have benefited from it will be inspired anew. The book is beautifully layered with evocative images of people, places, and moments in time in New York, London, and Greece and the nodal e vents in Kolsky’s arc in be coming the pe rson she w as meant to be. -Edward Ross, LCSW, BCD, N .Y. Institute for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, Faculty and Training Analyst, Lighthouse Guild Inte rnational, Director of Behavioral Health

In this intimate memoir, Beverly Kolsky takes us through an intriguing journey. The ghosts of her past, her losses and adventures, are unlocked through her own psychoanalysis. Empathic attunement to her patients guides her work as a psychoanalyst. We are enriched by the insights of this sensitive narrative. -Penny Rosen, MSW, LCSW, BCD-P, Past President AAPCSW, Board Member NPAP, NYIPSP, AAPCSW

On And Off The Couch is a beautifully written love letter to psychoanalysis and its power to transform a life. Kolsky gives us an insider’s look into her own journey of becoming free and independent as a woman, and as a psychoanalyst. This compelling memoir reveals the author’s devotion to her patients, the lucky beneficiaries of her own self exploration. We are fortunate that she found her voice, one worth listening to. -Lisa Sokoloff, MSW, LCSW, PsyA, Supervisor and Instructor IPS

Pure Gold! Kolsky offers a profound universal remedy that highlights the vital force of psychoanalysis and brilliantly opens the gateway to the intricate world of inner reality. In today’s complex world, On and Off the Couch: Memoir of a Psychoanalyst demonstrates the value of introspection in order to establish the equilibrium necessary to keep one afloat on the river of life. -Nuzhat Nada, Instructor, Human Development/Psychology

On and Off the Couch illuminates the complex process of psychoanalysis, its goals, challenges, and benefits, as the author tells of her personal experience on both sides of the process. Using clear and easily understandable language, Kolsky also clarifies the differences between other forms of psychotherapy and counselling. Readers who have been practitioners of psychotherapy, those who have experienced therapy, as well as those who are students in the field of mental health, will find this an interesting, informative and engaging book. -Ginny B. Schwartz, Ph.D., Former Director of Counselling Services, St. Lawrence University