In this captivating volume, Bernd Nissen considers the multiplicity of nameless states, and the impact of their discovery on psychoanalytic theory and practice. The nameless is considered through a variety of lenses: trauma, unrepresented states, autistoid/autistic states, breakdown, non-existence, and unrepressed/unstructured consciousness. Nissen draws upon the work of Freud and Bion to inform his exploration of nameless states and the ways in which they might be located, understood, and conceptualised. He illuminates the processes of transformation into the psychic and asks how nameless states can be psychically anchored. Clinical vignettes are used throughout to illustrate the consequences for treatment, as well as interpretations of complex holding examples. This book will be of interest to analysts both in practice and training, as well as psychotherapists and mental health practitioners wishing to understand nameless states more deeply.

In this captivating volume, Bernd Nissen considers the multiplicity of nameless states, and the impact of their discovery on psychoanalytic theory and practice. The nameless is considered through a variety of lenses: trauma, unrepresented states, autistoid/autistic states, breakdown, non-existence, and unrepressed/unstructured consciousness. Nissen draws upon the work of Freud and Bion to inform his exploration of nameless states and the ways in which they might be located, understood, and conceptualised. He illuminates the processes of transformation into the psychic and asks how nameless states can be psychically anchored. Clinical vignettes are used throughout to illustrate the consequences for treatment, as well as interpretations of complex holding examples. This book will be of interest to analysts both in practice and training, as well as psychotherapists and mental health practitioners wishing to understand nameless states more deeply.

English summary: In the experiences of psychotic patients, a thoughtful and engaging interaction with the therapist can present an existentially threatening situation: they can quickly feel pressured, overwhelmed, or isolated. Even the psychoanalyst can experience these basic fears. Experienced psychoanalysts explore psychosis treatments in which confusion, complications, and unbalanced actions have infiltrated the therapeutic relationship. They describe in a remarkably frank and precise way obvious crossings of lines, and, above all, more subtle forms of infractive communication. The reader, whether he has personal practical experience or mostly theoretical interests, can benefit from this impressive insight into clinical and analytical work. Throughout the text, the following is made abundantly clear: As long as the conflict in psychosis treatment is avoided, key elements will be missing in the understanding of dynamics, and those emotional experiences that are necessary for a sustained recovery of the patient will not be created. German text. German description: Im Erleben psychotischer Patienten stellt ein denkender und deutender Umgang mit dem Behandler eine existenziell bedrohliche Situation dar: Schnell fuhlen sie sich bedrangt, uberwaltigt oder isoliert. Auch der Psychoanalytiker wird von diesen elementaren Angsten erfasst. Erfahrene Psychoanalytiker untersuchen Psychosenbehandlungen, in denen Verwirrung, Verwicklungen und ver-rucktes Handeln die therapeutische Beziehung erfasst haben. Sie schildern in bemerkenswert offener und praziser Weise augenfallig gravierende Grenzubertritte und vor allem auch subtilere Formen einer grenzuberschreitenden Kommunikation. Der Leser, sei er selbst praxiserfahren oder uberwiegend theoretisch interessiert, kann von diesem beeindruckenden Einblick in klinisch-analytisches Arbeiten sehr profitieren. Im Verlauf der Lekture wird deutlich vor Augen gefuhrt: Solange die Auseinandersetzung mit solchen Grenzsituationen in Psychosentherapien vermieden wird, fehlen zentrale Elemente im Verstandnis der Dynamik - und damit durchgearbeitete emotionale Erfahrungen, die fur eine nachhaltige Gesundung des Patienten notwendig sind.