THE ROLE OF WORKING THROUGH IN BRINGING ABOUT PSYCHOANALYTIC CHANGE

In reviewing psychoanalytic case summaries while serving on the Commit tee on Certification of the American Psychoanalytic Association, the a uthor gradually became aware that there was a recognisable similarity in what the analysands experienced in spite of variations among psycho analysts as to how they conducted the analyses. Based on this observat ion, the author turned to his own clinical practice where more detaile d process data was available, and focused his attention in particular on what the analysand does during a psychoanalysis. A detailed explica tion is offered of his findings, with a focus on the nature of 'workin g through'. A clinical vignette is given to highlight that what the an alysand experiences is an essential ingredient in attempting to unders tand how structural al change occurs in psychoanalysis.