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Betty Joseph - analyst on the way to psychic change

Publication at Faculty of Arts |
2014

Abstract

The paper aims to introduce Betty Joseph and her unique contribution to the development of psychoanalytic theory and technique within the Kleinian tradition. The author presents the main areas of Betty Joseph's interest - her concept of psychic change and patient's need to maintain psychic equilibrium as well as her contribution to a specific way of understanding of transference and countertransference - the "total situation".

She describes the stages of development of analytic theory and practice of Betty Joseph, her emphasis on the detailed monitoring of the analytical process, emphasis on the alive and immediate experience in the session, while also discussing her place among British Kleinian analysts. The paper is an introduction to the Revue's Summer 2014 issue dedicated to the memory of Betty Joseph, who greatly influenced the work of a whole group of Czech analysts.