Cited by 2Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology ResearchPsychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsTransactional Analysis in Psychotherapy

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 6 of the 7 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 5 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Impasse or Pseudo-impasse in the Psychotherapy of an Inhibited Writer

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Burnstein, Leonard J., Cheifetz, Philip·1999·American Journal of Psychotherapy

Abstract

This paper describes the interactions of a patient and her therapist in the course of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, during which there occurred two significant impasse enactments. At first sight, each resembled a classical impasse. On further review of the case, the interactions took on a different texture that we have described as a pseudo-impasse in the course of the therapy. The enactments took the form of an abrupt cessation of the therapy in which the patient terminated and then later returned, thereby giving a more intense rhythm to the therapy. The patient, described as a sexually inhibited novelist with symptoms of panic and anxiety, said at the outset that she was never able to express strong feelings for fear of criticism. Central issues included a number of conflicts: the manner of referral in which her friend (who was also a friend of the therapist) was instrumental; the grief for her dead mother and her lost sister; and overt conflict with her critical father. These conflicts became re-enacted within the interactions between herself and her therapist. The stages of therapy could best be described as at first wishing her therapist to be her 'sin eater,' and, subsequently, her idealized, loving, nonjudgmental parent. We understand the pseudo-impasses to represent psychotherapeutically framed developmental steps.

Overview

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.1999.53.1.74

Cites

6 of 6 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

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Verification

Claims the paper makes

16 Own interpretation · 16 Own result · 5 No basis given · 2 Not checked yet · 1 Sources not found

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  • It may state two separate claims as one. 18
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 11
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Citations

Cites

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [3]3. Maldonado J L (1984). Analyst involvement in the psychoanalytic impasse. International Journal o f Psychoanalysis, 65,263-271.
  2. [8]8. Etchegoyen R H (1991). The fundam entals o f psychoanalytic technique (Ch.58, pp. 764-770). London: Karnac Books.

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Metadata

Authors
Burnstein, L. J., & Cheifetz, P.
Affiliations
  • Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre (CA)
  • University of Ottawa (CA)
Venue
American Journal of Psychotherapy
Published
1999-01
Volume
53
Issue
1
Pages
74-81
ISSN
  • 0002-9564 (ISSN-L)
  • 2575-6559
OpenAlex
W38725376
Cited by
2
References
7
Citations by year
2019: 1 · 2018: 1
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • American Journal of Psychotherapy (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Transactional Analysis in Psychotherapy
Keywords
psychoanalytic psychotherapy, therapeutic impasse, enactment, treatment discontinuation, writer's block, sexual inhibition, fear of criticism, grief, parental conflict, therapeutic relationship, developmental stages
MeSH terms
Acting Out, Adult, Anxiety Disorders, Conflict, Psychological, Countertransference, Female, Humans, Inhibition, Psychological, Models, Psychological, Professional-Patient Relations, Psychoanalytic Therapy, Transference, Psychology, Writing, Panic Disorder

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