PROJECTIVE COUNTERIDENTIFICATION

In this article, Grinberg presents his concept of projective counterid entification. He compares it with Racker's detailed concepts of counte rtransference, pointing out both common and distinct features. He then concludes, that the two processes coexist. The phenomenon occurs with strongly regressive - mostly psychotic - patients, whose alpha-functi on fails and who therefore mainly use the mechanism of projective iden tification to relieve psychological tension (Bion). Grinberg describes disturbances in the analytical interpretation caused by this phenomen on, which occur if the analyst does not consciously experience his cou nteridentification or uses defence mechanisms against it. However, Gri nberg argues, that there is an enormous creative potential for the ana lysis, if the analyst's level of tolerance is sufficiently high to han dle such a large degree of regression and to use it as a technical ins trument in the analysis.