Late Middle Phase and Termination

Adult Psychoanalytic Training (APT)
2021-22, 3rd Trimester — Fridays, 3:30-5:00pm
Christopher J. Keats, MD

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May 20, 2022 — Eternal Dilemmas and Relational Evolutions

[55 pages]

Grand, S. (2009). Termination as Necessary Madness, Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 19(6): 723-733.

This article includes an argument that resistance to termination has been feminized, and willingness to terminate has been masculinized, as part of an inquiry into one of the fundaments of psychoanalysis: intimacy entwined with the severing of intimacy.

Kantrowitz, J.L. (2002). Termination and the Meaning of Time: Limitations and Possibilities. J. Clin. Psychoanal., 11(4):561-585.

Reading this article leaves us with the feeling that some of the 21st century writings (as opposed to 20th century writings) seem more useful to the type of patients we see now. This article takes up the wish for timelessness and omnipotence: termination brings up both individual and universal dilemmas. It addresses some of the differences between younger and older patients and might be especially helpful for work with middle-aged and older patients. It also points out that the analyst’s stage of life affects the loss and countertransference associated with termination.

Mendenhall, S. (2009). From Termination to the Evolution of a Relationship: A New Understanding, Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 29(2):117-135.

This article replaces the concept of termination with the idea of evolutions of the analytic relationship including the return for more work at a later date. It includes the evolution of thinking about re-contact and provides statistics about the prevalence of re-contact. It also brings up the idea of NON-termination—that termination is not necessary. There are references to neuroscientific and self-psychological perspectives. The clinical example pertains to the shift to remote telephone therapy and provides an opportunity to discuss the issue of remote terminations.