There couldn’t be a more appropriate method for illustrating the dynamics of psychoanalysis than the vehicle of story. In this book, Kerry L. Malawista, Anne J. Adelman, and Catherine L. Anderson share amusing, poignant, and sometimes difficult stories from their personal and professional lives, inviting readers to explore the complex underpinnings of the psychoanalytic profession and its esoteric theories. Through their narratives, these practicing analysts show how to incorporate psychodynamic concepts and identify common truths at the root of shared experience. Their approach demystifies dense material and the emotional consequences of deep clinical work. The book covers psychodynamic theory, the development of ideas, various techniques, the challenges of treatment, and the experiences of trauma and loss. Each section begins with a brief memoir by one of the authors and leads into a discussion of related concepts. Overall the text follows a developmental trajectory, opening with stories from early childhood and concluding with present encounters. The result is a unique approach enabling the absorption of psychodynamic concepts as they unfold across the life span.

About the Authors

Kerry L. Malawista is a training/supervising analyst with the Contemporary Freudian Society. She is co-chair of the New Directions Writing Program and is in private practice in Potomac, Maryland, and McLean, Virginia.

Anne J. Adelman is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst with the Contemporary Freudian Society. She is a faculty member of the New Directions Writing Program and maintains a private practice in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Catherine L. Anderson is a psychologist and psychoanalyst with the Contemporary Freudian Society. She is co-chair of the New Directions Writing Program and practices in Bethesda, Maryland.