Man is born broken. He lives by mending. the grace of God is glue. How religion can Enrich an analysis.
The patient, a 59-year-old Caucasian male, was self-referred for analysis. The analysis lasted a period of four years on a thrice-weekly basis. The patient introduced the topic of religion directly in the analysis, and the analyst initially treated it as a psychological construct. The importance of the religious meaning of the patient's desires was not treated directly at the beginning of the analysis, which led to an impasse in the treatment. Further, the analyst's role as a priest was not disclosed to the patient. When the analysand discovered this, the analysis seemed to take a turn for the worse, but in actual fact, it was the real beginning of the analysis that allowed other topics to be faced, and the patient was able to move on with his life, as best he could, toward retirement and search for a new marriage partner.
anthony.oconnell@sbcglobal.net
Anthony
A
O'Connell
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002977:Clergy; D003379:Countertransference; D005619:Freudian Theory; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012650:Self Disclosure; D013695:Temperance / Q000523:psychology