Sacred Psychoanalysis - etheses Repository - University of ...

The first research method developed was a psychoanalytic intersubjective interview
methodology. This methodological approach synthesizes ontological assumptions,
conscious encounter, unconscious encounter and intersubjective presence developed into a
specific narrative. I locate myself within the interview process consciously aware of my
own experience of this process, which recognizes my presence and experience as a minister
of religion alert to spiritual dimensions. I also locate myself within the interview aware of
unconscious processes, identified by awareness of transferential and counter-transferential
phenomena, as well as the use of metaphors and dreams drawing on my practice as a
psychodynamic therapist. While such phenomena could be found in all the interviews, I
selected six for discussion on the basis of the quality of the encounter and reflexive
resonance. 2 I advance this as a new form of qualitative method that takes further the
importance of utilizing unconscious processes (Hollway and Jefferson 2000).
The second research methodology, a thematic narrative analysis, allowed me to stand to one
side of, rather than be central to, the research process. By locating myself at the edge of the
research data, this allowed themes to emerge from within the interview transcripts that were
made sense of through a narrative process utilizing hermeneutic principles (evolved
historically within biblical studies) for interpreting texts. Both methodologies were tested
through a specially convened group of academics, researchers and therapists gathered for a
qualitative research day. The knowledge that emerged from both research methodologies is
presented in support of the central thesis on the presence and importance of a sacred
psychoanalysis.
2 The interpretative process in psychoanalysis can be endlessly reflexive and no doubt there are unconscious
reasons why I did not choose other interviews for discussion for reasons as yet unknown to me. See (Brown
2006).
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