Author Archives: Al

!!!!!*****WORKING DRAFT*****!!!!! Petyr’s final seminar, “Illness in the analyst and professional wills” almost put me to sleep. Just barely into my 30’s, I didn’t see foresee any need to worry about this in my work. At dinner, I mentioned the … Continue reading →

!!!!!*****WORKING DRAFT*****!!!!! The following Thursday, Petyr led us through “Sexual Boundaries: How feelings of guilt, shame, and anxiety surround erotic feelings and erotic counter-transference.”  “Sexual feelings between analyst and analysand often present pitfalls in the therapeutic process,” he began. “Analysts … Continue reading →

!!!!!*****WORKING DRAFT*****!!!!! During December, Petyr Cohen walked us step-by-step through increasingly fraught scenarios of ethical dilemmas which commonly emerge during analysis. We easily dispensed with the risks of treating other family members of a patient, and receiving, or proffering gifts. … Continue reading →

!!!!!*****WORKING DRAFT*****!!!!! My repeated inquiries at the Boston Psychoanalytic Institute finally bore fruit. I met first with Dr. Jacobson, the executive director of the Institute, soon after my return from San Antonio. “The Board has come around to your view … Continue reading →

!!!!!*****WORKING DRAFT*****!!!!! Dr. Klein was right, my thesis defense proved anti-climatic. During my zealous preparation, not only had I memorized the entire dissertation, the key points of all 63 references of the references and also new papers more recently published. … Continue reading →

!!!!!*****WORKING DRAFT*****!!!!! In the first three weeks after my miscarriage, I threw myself into a job search and continued preparations for my orals. I knew I was suppressing my feelings about losing the pregnancy, but didn’t think I could put … Continue reading →

!!!!!*****WORKING DRAFT*****!!!!! “Anytime” came sooner than I’d imagined. Friday evening as I rode home, I started feeling some cramps. By the time I got to the bathroom, a little blood with a small clot plopped out. I called the health … Continue reading →

!!!!!*****WORKING DRAFT*****!!!!! The morning after dinner with Julia, I called the Ob clinic at Harvard Community Health Plan, intending to ask for a pregnancy test and initial appointment. “When was you last period?” asked an impersonal voice on the other … Continue reading →

!!!!!*****WORKING DRAFT*****!!!!! Sunday, I alternated between anger and depression, fuming first at Howard, then myself. I feared calling anyone, afraid of their reaction, or maybe my own, the imagined words of my sister echoing in my thoughts all day. Finally, … Continue reading →

!!!!!*****WORKING DRAFT*****!!!!! “Sarah?” Howard’s familiar baritone came through clear, static-free, as if he were calling from the room next door. “Howard? Where are you?” I wasn’t sure I wanted to know, but after all our time together, politeness came naturally. … Continue reading →