The Danger of Change: The Kleinian Approach with Patients Who Experience Progress as Trauma

by Waska; Robert

• ISBN13: 9780415385848
• ISBN10: 0415385849
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-04-19
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Confusing clinical standoffs, loyalty to self-destruction and abrupt terminations are challenging and under-examined problems for the modern psychoanalytic practitioner. The Danger of Changeis a timely book that addresses the so-called resistant patient so many clinicians are familiar with. Robert Waska blends theory based on Melanie Klein's classical stance with the more contemporary Freudian/Kleinian school, to demonstrate how to understand patients that are resistant to progress. Divided into four sections, this book covers: reluctant patients and the fight against change: caught between the paranoid and depressive world greed and the dangers of change interruptions to the process of change: loss, envy, and the death instinct working toward change in the face of overwhelming odds Extensive and detailed clinical material is used to bring clarity to subjects including symbolism, conflict resolution, projective identification, the depressive and paranoid positions, change and trust. The Danger of Changebrings hope and clarity to cases involving patients who experience progress as a threat to their emotional wellbeing. It will be of great interest to all practising psychoanalysts, as well as those studying psychoanalytic theory and practice.

Table of Contents

Personal statement	vii
Introduction	ix
PART I Reluctant patients and the fight against change: caught between the paranoid and depressive world	1	(64)
1 I hear you knocking but you can't come in	3	(13)
2 Mistrust of the good object	16	(16)
3 Fighting off the good object	32	(17)
4 Problems in receiving	49	(16)
PART II Greed and the dangers of change	65	(70)
5 Melanie Klein's theory of greed	67	(12)
6 The frightening rumble of psychic hunger	79	(12)
7 The impossible dream and the endless nightmare	91	(15)
8 Greed, idealization, and insatiability	106	(14)
9 Setting the bar too high	120	(15)
PART III Interruptions to the process of change: loss, envy, and the death instinct	135	(58)
10 The clinical advantage of the death instinct	137	(15)
11 Acting out and the death instinct	152	(14)
12 Borderline and psychotic patients	166	(16)
13 Oral deprivation, envy, and sadism	182	(11)
PART IV Working toward change in the face of overwhelming odds	193	(45)
14 A case study of borderline anxiety	195	(12)
15 Bargains, treaties, and delusions	207	(17)
16 Symbolization and the good object	224	(14)
Summary	238	(5)
Bibliography	243	(7)
Index	250