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Sacred Psychoanalysis - etheses Repository - University of ...

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oth … psychoanalysis is a healing journey that two people make together (JBR 43-<br />

44).<br />

The reason I like the contemporary atmosphere is … psychoanalysis is one among<br />

… a number <strong>of</strong> very pr<strong>of</strong>ound methods for human transformation and alleviation <strong>of</strong><br />

suffering, and actually the creation <strong>of</strong> human well-being … I don’t see … that<br />

psychoanalysis is the mode <strong>of</strong> transformation, it’s … a … comparative view …<br />

comparing primarily … Buddhist and Zen paths, … I think there’s something that<br />

happens in the zeitgeist <strong>of</strong> being a psychoanalyst, where … psychoanalysis is life<br />

and it’s not life, … it helps us to open to life, but so do … other pathways (JBR 82-<br />

97).<br />

Several interviewees linked this transforming view <strong>of</strong> being human to the psychoanalytic<br />

task that allies it with some aspects <strong>of</strong> religions and spiritualities, though others refute this.<br />

In the British psychoanalytic context there is still little evidence <strong>of</strong> engagement with religion<br />

or spirituality.<br />

If I think back to both <strong>of</strong> my trainings … I can’t think <strong>of</strong> a single lecture where<br />

either <strong>of</strong> these terms were thought about as issues to be thought about … it might<br />

come up in a clinical seminar that you have a patient that … had a very strong faith<br />

and … that might be thought about … but … it’s not theorized … was never<br />

introduced … as an issue (AL 480-487).<br />

Theme 4: Contemporary psychoanalysts<br />

The key names associated with religion and spirituality in contemporary psychoanalysis by<br />

the interviewees were Eigen (16 references), Symington (14 references), Mitchell (8<br />

references) and Coltart (7 references). 426<br />

Eigen was well known by most <strong>of</strong> the interviewees, especially in New York where he was<br />

known personally by all those interviewed, as well as Bobrow in San Francisco and<br />

Grotstein in Los Angeles. ‘He is extraordinary he is the one man you have got to interview<br />

for spirituality’ (JG 102-103). ‘You have the centre <strong>of</strong> psychoanalytic spiritual life right<br />

426 Mitchell was primarily associated with contemporary psychoanalysis, rather than religion and spirituality.<br />

256

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