1st Edition
Vital Flows Between the Self and Non-Self The Interpsychic
Vital Flows explores the concept of the Interpsychic, or that which exists in our unconscious or preconscious inter- and intra-human exchanges and demonstrates its significance for understanding psychoanalytic theory and practice.
Drawing on rich clinical material, Bolognini explains how interactions between the self and the ego may be affected by pre-conscious associations, and how these can hinder the development of our self-concept and social interaction. Combining his international theoretical and clinical knowledge, Bolognini provides meaningful ways to understand the unconscious and renders patients’ preconscious channels viable and liveable in a transformative way. With the understanding that the psychic life consists of internal and external interactions equivalent to those that occur by bodily exchange, this text provides an insightful account of how internal life can shape our development from childhood onwards.
As an instructive and topical text which draws meaningfully from Italian, British and North-American psychoanalysis, Vital Flows will be critical for psychoanalysts and psychotherapists alike, as they seek to understand and apply the inter-psychic within their own practice.
1. SECRET PASSAGES TOWARDS THE UNCONSCIOUS EMOTIONAL RESIDENCES, STYLES OF CONTACT AND EXPLORATION 2. IN SPITE OF MY EGO: THE UNCONSCIOUS AND “PROBLEM SOLVING” 3. REPRESENTATION AND SYNTONIZATION 4. INTIMACY AND ITS INTERPSYCHIC EQUIVALENTS 5. INTERPERSONAL, INTERSUBJECTIVE, INTERPSYCHIC AND TRANSPSYCHIC 6. SIX COMMONLY USED MINIMAL TECHNICAL TOOLS 7. BEFORE THE INTERSUBJECTIVE: “PRESUBJECTIVE” AND “PREANALYTIC” PATIENTS IN THE CLINIC 8. PSYCHOANALYSIS AND PSYCHOSIS: REDISCOVERING THE SELF TO REBUILD THE EGO 9. “UBIQUE ET SEMPER”. EQUIVALENCES AND CONSUBSTANTIALITY BETWEEN PAST, PRESENT, FEARED FUTURE AND POTENTIAL FUTURE IN THE ANALYTIC EXPERIENCE
Biography
Stefano Bolognini is a Psychiatrist, a Training and Supervising Analyst, and the former President of the Italian Psychoanalytic Society. He is also the former President of the International Psychoanalytic Association, and the Founder and former Chair of the IPA Inter-Regional Psychoanalytic Dictionary of Psychoanalysis. He is author of more than 250 papers and several books published in many languages, and lives and works in Bologna, Italy.
'Vital Flows is a remarkable book. It takes the reader on an intimate, transformative journey to the heart of psychoanalysis. Through a deeply thoughtful integration of his personal, clinical, academic, and institutional experience, Bolognini presents the evolution and essence of a psychoanalytic identity. The interiority of the analyst as both ‘rooted’ and ‘winged’ interacts with that of the patient to create conditions for an oscillation between fusional contact and protected distance and the discovery and elaboration of intra- and interpsychic experience. The book portrays the simultaneity of the ‘here and now’, ‘there and then’, ‘everywhere and every time’ that characterizes unconscious human experience'.
Harriet L. Wolfe, President International Psychoanalytical Association. Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California
'This is a book of stunning complexity and breadth, a much-needed integration of psychoanalytic theory and technique from a compassionate, master clinician and story-teller'.
Fred Busch, author of Creating a Psychoanalytic Mind and The Analyst's Reveries
'Vital Flows is an original, powerful and emotionally moving masterwork of contemporary psychoanalysis as the multifaceted, deeply human, intra- and inter-connected 'science of a possible pathway to the Unconscious'. It is a must read for the most seasoned analyst as much as for the beginner, and anybody in between'.
Eva D. Papiasvili, Chair IPA Inter-Regional Encyclopedic Dictionary of Psychoanalysis
This extraordinary book constitutes one of the most important contributions to psychoanalysis in recent years. Writing with his characteristic grace, humor and creativity and in a style totally devoid of dogmatism or narrow theoretical bias, Dr. Bolognini presents us with a way of thinking about, and working in the analytic process that is invaluable. Always cognizant that the illumination and exploration of unconscious mentation is at the heart of the analytic endeavor, he has developed a unique approach that stresses the importance of understanding intersubjective communication as well as intrapsychic forces. And by employing interpretations that remain close to what is in patients’ conscious awareness, his way of working is both meaningful to, and deeply appreciated by, his patients, as well as being therapeutic. By sharing this valuable approach with us, as well as his profound understanding of the analytic process, Dr. Bolognini has given us a precious gift.
Ted Jacobs, Training Analyst in New York
Stefano Bolognini is one of the most creative psychoanalytic thinkers of our time . Bolognini explores and develops with his usual elegance, depth and masterful clinical skill some of the themes to which he brought new light: the preconscious, empathy, intimacy, analytic relation and the way we can think about and practice psychoanalysis currently. I strongly recommend this new step forward of Bolognini s exploration of the subtle aspects of our field to both seasoned practitioners and newcomers who will find here food for thinking and feeling alike.
Cláudio Laks Eiziri, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
