Witnessing and Psychoanalysis: As If It Never Happened

By: Philippe Réfabert

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Synopsis: Psychoanalysis and Witnessing intertwines aspects of the history of psychoanalysis with the development of Philippe Réfabert’s own thinking and clinical practice. Réfabert’s work invites analysts to reflect on the inception of psychic life. The author argues for a revision of drive theory and reflects on the psychic functioning of the analyst in the session. Réfabert forces the analyst to see the necessity of standing witness to acts left unacknowledged; he holds that in analysis witnessing is crucial. With case material from the author’s practice throughout, this book will be of great interest to psychoanalysts in practice and in training.