Transgender Psychoanalysis

Transforming Theory: Innovations in Critical Trans Studies

“…As Leo Bersani writes, Gherovici's work asks not what psychoanalysis can proclaim about trans people or how it might diagnose them, but, rather, 'persuasively proposes that transgenderism might provide new ideas for the clinic'. 19 Gherovici sees radical potential in bringing Lacanian psychoanalysis together with Trans Studies, a result of Lacan's separation of penis (as material organ) from phallus (as symbolic marker of gender). She suggests that the increasing visibility of transgender as a phenomenon has been transformative of wider notions of sex, gender and sexual identity, claiming that 'this evolution can reorient psychoanalytic practice'.…”

“…She suggests that the increasing visibility of transgender as a phenomenon has been transformative of wider notions of sex, gender and sexual identity, claiming that 'this evolution can reorient psychoanalytic practice'. 20 While acknowledging the normative position analysts have historically taken by reading transsexuality as pathology, she claims that her own clinical experience offers a different perspective. Thus, rather than a model whereby trans individuals are diagnosed by psychoanalysts, Gherovici affirms that it is 'psychoanalysis (that) needs sex realignment, and the time is now'.…”

“…21 Her work offers a reassessment of key psychoanalytic concepts and models through a transgender lens: rethinking hysteria in relation to gender as 'expressing a universal foundation of sexual uncertainty' and therefore as 'a powerful tool for the production of truth'; 22 considering the 'limits of the Oedipal model' and castration anxiety through her own clinical case studies drawn from her work with trans patients; 23 and emphasizing the creative function of the Lacanian sinthome over the pathologoical symptom, building upon Lacan's formulation to rethink bodily transformation as life-permitting and inventive, 'a reconciliation with life'. 24 Shanna Carlson also suggest that Trans Studies offers lessons for psychoanalysis, following Tim Dean in his interest in the disruptive, queer potential of Lacanian psychoanalysis. 25 Yet unlike Dean, and along similar lines to Gherovici, Carlson sees the 'divorcing of gender from unconscious sexuation' as the 'the logical consequence' of reading Lacan.…”

Transgender Children: From Controvery to Dialogue

“…Finally, although we set out to include participants from a wide range of theoretical orientations, our conversation has a Lacanian emphasis (albeit not exclusively so, with Silber representing a relational perspective). We do not think this is simply a coincidence, but rather, reflective of the fact that Lacanian thought has played an outsized role in contemporary, English language psychoanalytic writing on trans (see Carlson 2010;Cavanagh 2016;Gherovici 2010Gherovici , 2017Gozlan 2014;Osserman 2017;Shepherdson 2000). This is a curious development (especially given the marginalization of Lacanian clinical practice within the Anglophone world) for which various explanations may be offered.…”

Le toucher est politique , Écoute analytique et question des savoirs situés

“…Les récits cliniques discutés par l'auteure dans Transgender Psychoanalysis (Gherovici, 2017) sont un exemple de la variété infinie des discours de personnes trans sur leur transidentité. Ils montrent les effets positifs d'une rencontre analytique qui ne diffèrerait pas de celle proposée à des patients cisgenre.…”