Contemporary Psychoanalytic Field Theory
Stories, Dreams, and Metaphor
Psychoanalytic Field Theory Book Series

Contemporary Psychoanalytic Field Theory articulates the theory, heuristic principles, and clinical techniques of psychoanalytic field theory. S. Montana Katz describes the historical, philosophical and clinical contexts for the development of field theory in South America, North America and Europe.

Field theory is a family of related bi-personal psychoanalytic perspectives falling into three principal models, which developed relatively independently. One of the principal models is based upon the work of Madeleine and Willy Baranger. The second, constructed by Katz, draws upon what is held in common by the implicit field theories in the United States of the interpersonal, intersubjective, relational and motivational systems? psychoanalytic perspectives. The third is based upon the work of Antonino Ferro. For each, Katz elucidates its conception of mind, unconscious processes, the specific field concept employed, therapeutic goals, and clinical techniques. Similarities and differences of the models are illustrated.

In the book, a fabricated analytic process is offered in which an analysand, Zoe, is engaged in three analyses. Each analyst works with the techniques of one of the three field theories. Katz conveys the diverging thought processes and technical choices of each analyst and the potentially different therapeutic outcomes of the application of each model. In the final chapters, Katz moves beyond the specific field theories to articulate a concept of a general field which underlies the three field concepts. She explores how to use this generalized field to find a form of common ground amongst the field theories, conjecturing that this generalized concept has application beyond field theory to a greater range of psychoanalytic perspectives.

Contemporary Psychoanalytic Field Theory provides a clear and comprehensive guide that will appeal to psychoanalysts, psychoanalytic psychotherapists, mental health professionals and clinicians, as well as philosophers, psychologists, sociologists and anthropologists.

Foreword by Joseph Lichtenberg

Part I The First Wave of Psychoanalytic Field Theory

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Overview of Psychoanalytic Field Theory: Past, present, and future

Chapter 3 The First Model of Psychoanalytic Field Theory: The mythopoeic model

Chapter 4 The Second Model of Psychoanalytic Field Theory: The plasmic model

Part II The Second Wave of Psychoanalytic Field Theory

Chapter 5 The Third Model of Psychoanalytic Field Theory: The oneiric model.

Chapter 6 Clinical Case: Zoe

Chapter 7 Analytic Listening in the Three Models

Chapter 8 The Initial Phase of Zoe’s Analysis

Chapter 9 Some Theoretical Considerations Regarding Clinical Process

Chapter 10 Tools and Techniques of Psychoanalytic Process in the Three Field Theory Models

Part III The Third Wave of Psychoanalytic Field Theory

Chapter 11 A Discussion of the Three Models of Contemporary Psychoanalytic Field Theory

Chapter 12 General Psychoanalytic Fields and Their Uses

Chapter 13 Concluding Remarks on Psychoanalysis as a Holistic Endeavor

S. Montana Katz is a founding co-Director of the International Field Theory Association. She is a Training and Supervising Analyst and Senior Faculty Member at the National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis.