“When the patient is in danger because he is physically ill, or the analyst is in danger because he is physically ill, like with the current situation, the analytic work needs a community of denial.”

 

Description:

Harvey Schwartz welcomes Marilia Aisenstein to this episode. Marilia Aisenstein is a training analyst at the Paris Psychoanalytical Society and of the Hellenic Psychoanalytical Society. She is a past president of the Paris Psychoanalytical Society, past President of l'Institut de Psychosomatique de Paris, former European representative to the Board, and former Chair of International Psychoanalytical Association International New Groups. Marilia is the author of many papers and publications about psychosomatics and received the Bouvet Award in 1992.

She is currently in private practice in Paris and she gives seminars to both the Hellenic and the Paris Society. Marilia’s latest book in English is titled An Analytic Journey: From the Art of Archery to the Art of Psychoanalysis.

 

In today’s conversation, Marilia shares her rich and nuanced grasp on the clinical encounter, engaging these changing, challenging, and difficult times that we are all struggling with.

 

Key takeaways:

[4:55] Marilia Aisenstein talks about the current situation in Paris.

[8:28] Marilia shares how the French psychoanalytic community has been reacting to the Covid-19 crisis.

[11:20] The interesting reactions of patients to online sessions.

[13:44] Marilia shares how she is coping with the questions regarding the online modality.

[16:24] What we thought was a “sin” in a psychoanalytical frame, it is now being challenged by times that force us to adapt.

[17:35] The IPA rules for distant psychoanalysis.

[18:17] Marilia shares clinical examples.

[19:58] Marilia assesses the matter of denial.

[21:30] The concept of a soft community of denial.

[21:57] What is sustaining Marilia through these tough times?

 

Mentioned in this episode:

IPA Off the Couch www.ipaoffthecouch.org

Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie