Absence and absent-mindedness

Thomas, Mary

doi:10.4324/9780203624609-14

Cited by 1 publication

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“…Absences by then had continued almost beyond my endurance and so I was the one to react to this repetition of a childhood scenario. As Thomas says in her paper on ‘Absence and absentmindedness’: ‘Survival of the deadliness and despair that absent patients may evoke in their therapist is regarded as a key factor in the work’ (Thomas, 2006, p. 221). To the extent that the letter‐writing and its contents were ‘jointly created by the unconscious of patient and analyst’ (Gerrard, 2007, p. 218), it was an ‘enactment’ but it is difficult to imagine how else things could have been managed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition we focused on the hatred that, with her prolonged absences, becomes very alive – certainly in me but probably in Rose too, albeit unconscious. Thomas (2006), too, stressed the importance of consultation when working with absent patients, bearing in mind the sense of meaninglessnes they can generate. An enormous effort is invested in ‘making something out of nothing’.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Like the second synagogue, I came to understand that I was felt to be vital to her sense of what is needed for her survival. Thomas (2006) would seem to have reached a similar understanding when she stated: ‘Absence from the therapy felt crucial for her (i.e. the patient's) survival’.…”

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confidence: 85%

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A Question of Absence

Gerrard

2010

Brit J Psychotherapy

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This paper was written in an effort to process rather extreme countertransference reactions to an ‘absent’ patient, i.e. one who attended her twice‐weekly psychotherapy only sporadically. At times she did not come for up to several months and consequently a serious debt would accrue. However, it was not so much the amount owing but rather the constant cancellations, with seemingly ‘rational’ excuses about her non‐attendance that would provoke an intense frustration accompanied, at times, by furious, almost sadistic countertransference feelings. The patient kept her therapist ‘dangling in uncertainty’ (Brenman Pick, 2002), which the author considered to be a reflection of the patient's inner sado‐masochistic object world. The author attempts to make sense of her countertransference in the light of the patient's early relationships and subsequently forms a hypothesis that the absences have been necessary to convey, very powerfully, experiences that may not have been communicated by regular attendance. Finally, the author offers her ‘Afterthoughts’ in the light of developments since the patient has read the paper and given her permission for publication.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%