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Vol. 43 No. 1 (2023)
Revista Portuguesa de Psicanálise

Clínicas

Do amor (e do ódio) na contratransferência às violações dos limites sexuais na relação analítica

https://doi.org/10.51356/rpp.431a4

Published 2023-06-30

  • Orlando von Doellinger

Orlando von Doellinger
Sociedade Portuguesa de Psicanálise

Abstract

From countertransferencial love (and hate) to sexual boundary violations in the analytic relationship

Countertransferencial love (much like hate) is ever-present in the analytic relationship, albeit in different forms, and not only conveys crucial information about the patient and he analyst themselves, but is even essential for the creativity of the analytic process. However, regardless of the form in question, this love should always be distinguished from the violation of the boundaries of the analytic relationship, which includes any sexual contact between analyst and analysand. These transgressions have been present in psychoanalytic practice throughout its history. It is important therefore to clarify the concept of countertransferential love and identify its functions in the psychoanalytic process, paying attention not only to its therapeutic but also to its destructive roles. Thus, based on a bibliographical review of the topic and the inclusion of two brief clinical vignettes, this article proposes to reflect on countertransferential love and, subsequently, on some of the specificities of psychoanalytic theory and practice — as well as of institutional functioning — that may, in some way, contribute to the persistence of sexual boundary violations in therapeutic relationships.The article concludes with proposals for debate on strategies to prevent such violations from occurring.

Keywords

Psychoanalysis, Analytic relationship, Ethics, Sexual boundary violations

PDF (Português)

Author Biography

Orlando von Doellinger

Psicanalista, Médico Psiquiatra, Doutorado em Psicologia Clínica. Membro com funções didáticas da Sociedade Portuguesa de Psicanálise (SPP).

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