Sacred Psychoanalysis - etheses Repository - University of ...

Coltart, and later, David Black. 281 Coltart until her death in 1997 was a very significant
figure in British psychoanalysis (Bollas 1996; Abram 1998; Gabbard 1998). 282 During
Coltart’s training Bion made a huge impression and from his mystical genius Coltart
adopted the term ‘faith’ as ‘the most highly desirable stance of the psychoanalyst’ (Coltart
1993c: 4) not as a religious term but that of willed creativity, ‘faith that there is an ultimate
reality and truth – the unknown, unknowable, “formless infinite”’ (Bion quoted in Coltart
1993c: 4). Bion adds ‘Zen Buddhism helps the spirit, or soul … to continue … we help the
soul or psyche to be born, and even help it to continue to develop after it is born’ (Quoted in
Coltart 1993c: 11).
Part of the Independent tradition (Kohon 1986; Bass 1998), Coltart’s influence within the
British Psychoanalytical Society was crucially important, both personally as seen in a letter
from Masud Khan (Hopkins 2006), and institutionally as Director of the London Clinic of
Psycho-Analysis and Vice-President of the British Psychoanalytical Society. Coltart tells
her story of her ‘journey from literature, via medicine, to a meditative view of life, heavily
influenced by Buddhism ... to show the impact these influences have had on her view and
practice of psychoanalysis’ (Rose 1997: 617). This can be clearly seen in her first book
Slouching towards Bethlehem (1993) followed by The Baby and the Bathwater (1997)
described as ‘provocative, clinically useful, and extraordinarily moving’ (Gabbard 1998)
281 Symington does include a brief chapter on traditional forms of Buddhism that is highly regarded by Coltart,
but concludes, ‘I believe that Buddhism has a religious philosophy close to the value system of
psychoanalysis. However it is a traditional religion and … fails to meet modern man in the emotional locus
where he lives’ (Symington 1998: 35).
282 Coltart developed a distinct voice as an analyst and was admired for the clarity of her writing and her
ability to talk about what was actually happening in the consulting room (Denford 1986; Freke 1999).
Influence also came through a diverse range of widely scattered articles, friendships and contacts (Molino
1997: 184). For example Coltart was appreciative of the work of R. D. Laing in making sense of very
disturbed patients and of the work of Joseph and the Arbours Association (Coltart 1993c; Molino 1997: 206;
Lucas 1998).
127