Welcoming the desire to die: A preliminary step to psychotherapeutic work with the patient at risk of suicide

Marco Nicastro

Abstract


The author, starting from Bion’s theorization about the role of the alpha function and the container-contained
dynamics, outlines a possible position of the psychoanalytic therapist in the face of the patient’s suicidal risk
and the related anguishes of death. Specifically, the need for a deep emotional involvement of the therapist in
the relationship with the patient is highlighted, which is not based on a taken for granted tendency to
encourage the patient or reduce his/her psychic suffering as soon as possible. Instaead, such an involvement
is oriented to welcome and psychically focus his/her pain so that it may be gradually elaborated by the
therapeutic couple, avoiding to immediately assume guiding attitudes or moral condemnation with regard to
the patient’s suicidal tendency.

Keywords


suicidio; funzione alfa; identificazione proiettiva; alleanza terapeutica; psicoterapia;

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References


Bion W. (1962), Apprendere dall’esperienza, Armando, Roma 1972

Bion W. (1963) Gli elementi della psicoanalisi, Armando, Roma 1979

Klein M. (1946), Note su alcuni meccanismi schizoidi. In Scritti 1921-1958, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino 1978

Kernberg H. (1975), Sindromi marginali e narcisismo patologico, Bollati Boringhieri, 1978.

Kernberg O. (1984), Disturbi gravi della personalità, Bollati Boringhieri 1987.

Kohut H. (1971), Narcisismo e analisi del Sé, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino 1976

Winnicott D. W. (1958), Aspetti metapsicologici e clinici della regressione nell’ambito della situazione analitica. In: Dalla pediatria alla psicoanalisi, Martinelli, Firenze 1991

Winnicott D.W (1958), Distorsioni dell’io in termini di vero e falso Sé. In: Dalla Pediatria alla Psicoanalisi, Martinelli, Firenze 1991.




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Rivista di Psicologia Clinica. Teoria e metodi dell'intervento

Rivista Telematica a Carattere Scientifico Registrazione presso il Tribunale civile di Roma (n.149/2006 del 17/03/2006)

ISSN 1828-9363

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