Receiving the invitation to open up [chapter]

Arno L. Goudsmit
2018 Theory and Practice of Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy  
In this contribution, theoretical insights from object relations theory that underlie my therapeutic approach will be introduced. These can be seen to fit in well with an experiential dynamic therapy approach. In particular, I will discuss and illustrate the development of an interpersonal transitional space (cf. Winnicott, 1971) in which corrective emotional experiences can take place, that is, the therapist becoming an object to the patient thereby offering the patient a relationship working
more » ... odel that was missing or lost in childhood. In particular, the therapy can offer a new interpersonal space, from which the patient can develop a new or an enhanced Ego position. That is to say, the deep affects cannot be conceived just to "exist" somewhere inside the patient, if the subject who is to experience them has not yet arrived, or has sought shelter elsewhere. 1 Object relations and relatedness The core of object relations theory, as I understand it, entails quite a revolutionary shift, or inversion, of emphasis from the primacy of the individual to the primacy of the relation. If we take relatedness as primary, and prior to individuality, then this inversion has some implications for the idea of a subject, for then relatedness is conceived to be the substrate of individual subjectivity, rather than the subject being conceived as the primordial carrier of relationships. The latter view is the more traditional way of conceiving, but it may be useful not to stick to it in all circumstances.
doi:10.4324/9780429483844-13 fatcat:gs5ej55d5vgolkkyc4mn52h4ey