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Who's Behind the Couch?: The Heart and Mind of the Psychoanalyst

Editor : Robert Winer, Editor : Kerry L. Malawista

Reviews and Endorsements

‘Rich with a plethora of fascinating, and often surprising, clinical vignettes, Who’s Behind the Couch? reveals to its readers why seventeen prominent psychoanalysts, from around the world and different theoretical orientations, decided to join their profession; what a great variety of often incompatible views they believe in; how they become personally affected by their practices; and how they deal with the difficult situations they encounter. We are thus given privileged access here to who they really are: not only as analysts inside their consulting room, but also as people outside of it.’
— Andrea Sabbadini, author of Boundaries and Bridges: Perspectives on Time and Space in Psychoanalysis and Moving Images: Psychoanalytic Reflections on Film

‘The editors’ aim was not to present these psychoanalysts’ theoretical ideas, but to tell their personal stories. It is this unique viewpoint – the inner worlds of these psychoanalysts – that makes Who’s Behind the Couch? interesting. It will appeal not only to those in the mental health field, but to anyone interested in human nature and what goes on in a psychoanalyst’s office.’
— Vamik D. Volkan, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry and the author of Immigrants and Refugees: Trauma, Perennial Mourning, and Border Psychology

‘With humour and honesty, experienced clinicians talk about the pain and privilege of doing psychoanalytic work. The opportunities for growth by both patient and analyst are movingly described, as are the misunderstandings that can make the work so difficult. An intimate portrait of life behind the couch.’
— Daniel Jacobs, MD, supervising and training analyst at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute Faculty, Harvard Medical School

‘“Who’s behind the couch?” is the most burning question for patients or candidates beginning psychoanalysis, before they approach the personal question: “Who am I?”. These interviews with senior analysts show what personal struggles, feelings and creativities are necessary to help the analysand to find this shift, to make a “patient-centred” psychoanalytic technique, and to achieve the attitude of a continuously present listener.’
— Peter Wegner, training and supervising analyst of the German Psychoanalytical Association (DPV/IPA) in private practice in Tubingen

‘Years ago, the analyst’s anonymity was key, with the analyst sitting behind the couch in order not to reveal himself. This book turns everything upside down: analysts lie on the couch, and with complete self-disclosure seem to take their clothes off. There is no other book that better exemplifies the changes occurring in our way of conceiving psychoanalytic theory and practice. This book is really worth reading, it has a lot to teach: to therapists, to patients, and also to non-professional readers.’
— Paolo Migone, editor of the journal Psicoterapia e Scienze Umane

‘Based on a highly interesting set of questions, Robert Winer and Kerry L. Malawista brilliantly explore the personal experiences of the psychoanalyst. Feelings such as love and hate, anger, hopelessness, and facing death (patient or analyst) are in play. We are invited into the analyst’s subjectivity. The editors’ comments on each interview enrich this venture, relaunching debates about the impact of the analyst’s gender, cultural differences, trauma and memories, leaving also a space open for uncertainty.’
—Leticia Glocer Fiorini, former president of the Argentine Psychoanalytic Association