Jean Oury
- Transversality
- The One-All-Alone (l'Un-tout-seul)
- The Function of the Institution
- The Holding Environment
- Transference and Institution
- Collective Subjectivation
Jean Oury (1924-2014) was a French psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, best known for his groundbreaking work in institutional psychotherapy and the establishment of the La Borde clinic, a therapeutic community that became a model for alternative psychiatric care. Oury's approach emphasized the importance of the institution itself as a therapeutic tool, challenging traditional hierarchical structures and promoting collective subjectivation in the treatment of psychosis.
Biography
Jean Oury's life and work were deeply intertwined with the development of institutional psychotherapy in France. His experiences during World War II and his subsequent training in psychiatry led him to question the prevailing methods of psychiatric care and to seek alternative approaches that prioritized the patient's autonomy and social integration.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1924, Oury's early life was marked by the social and political upheavals of pre-war and wartime Europe. He served in the French army during World War II and was deeply affected by his experiences. After the war, he pursued medical studies and specialized in psychiatry. His training exposed him to the limitations and often dehumanizing practices of traditional psychiatric institutions, which fueled his desire to create a more humane and effective approach to mental healthcare.[1]
La Borde Clinic
In 1953, Oury co-founded the La Borde clinic in Cour-Cheverny, France, along with Félix Guattari and other like-minded individuals. La Borde became a pioneering experiment in institutional psychotherapy, based on the principles of collective responsibility, shared decision-making, and the creation of a therapeutic community. The clinic's structure was designed to break down traditional power dynamics between staff and patients, fostering a sense of belonging and promoting the patient's active participation in their own treatment.[2]
Institutional Affiliations
While La Borde remained his primary focus, Oury was also involved in various other institutional and intellectual networks. He attended Jacques Lacan's seminars, integrating Lacanian concepts into his understanding of psychosis and the therapeutic process. He also maintained close ties with other figures in the anti-psychiatry movement, such as Frantz Fanon and Franco Basaglia.
Engagement with Psychoanalysis
Oury's approach to psychoanalysis was deeply influenced by his clinical experience and his commitment to institutional psychotherapy. He saw the institution itself as a crucial element in the therapeutic process, arguing that it could either reinforce or challenge the patient's alienation and isolation.
The Institution as Therapeutic Tool
Oury viewed the psychiatric institution not simply as a place of confinement or treatment, but as a dynamic social environment with the potential to foster healing and growth. He emphasized the importance of creating a "holding environment" within the institution, where patients could feel safe, supported, and empowered to take responsibility for their own lives.[3]
Transference and the Institution
Oury extended the concept of transference, a central concept in psychoanalysis, to the institutional setting. He argued that patients develop transferential relationships not only with individual therapists but also with the institution as a whole. By analyzing and working through these institutional transferences, Oury believed that patients could gain a deeper understanding of their own psychic dynamics and their relationship to the social world.[4]
Lacanian Influence
Oury's engagement with Lacanian psychoanalysis informed his understanding of psychosis and the role of language in the construction of reality. He saw psychosis as a breakdown in the symbolic order, leading to a fragmentation of the self and a loss of connection with the social world. By creating a therapeutic environment that fostered communication, creativity, and collective meaning-making, Oury aimed to help patients rebuild their symbolic structures and reintegrate themselves into society.
Theoretical Contributions
Oury's theoretical contributions are primarily rooted in his clinical practice and his reflections on the nature of institutional psychotherapy. He developed several key concepts that have had a lasting impact on the field of mental healthcare.
Club Thérapeutique
The "Club Thérapeutique" was a central element of Oury's approach to institutional psychotherapy. It was a structured activity that brought together patients and staff to engage in shared tasks, discussions, and decision-making. The Club Thérapeutique provided a forum for patients to express their needs, concerns, and ideas, and to participate actively in the management of the institution. It also served as a space for building relationships, fostering a sense of community, and promoting collective responsibility.[5]
Transversality
Oury introduced the concept of "transversality" to describe the complex relationships and power dynamics that exist within an institution. Transversality refers to the horizontal connections and exchanges that occur between different individuals and groups, as opposed to the vertical hierarchies that typically characterize traditional institutions. By promoting transversality, Oury aimed to break down rigid boundaries, foster collaboration, and empower all members of the community to participate in decision-making.[6]
The One-All-Alone (l'Un-tout-seul)
Oury used the term "l'Un-tout-seul" (the One-All-Alone) to describe the experience of profound isolation and alienation that is often characteristic of psychosis. He argued that the therapeutic task is to help patients overcome this sense of isolation by creating opportunities for connection, communication, and shared meaning-making. The institution, in Oury's view, should serve as a bridge between the patient and the social world, helping them to reintegrate themselves into a community of others.[7]
Clinical and Institutional Work
Oury's clinical and institutional work was inseparable from his theoretical contributions. He dedicated his life to creating and sustaining therapeutic communities that embodied his principles of collective responsibility, shared decision-making, and the importance of the institution as a therapeutic tool.
La Borde as a Model
The La Borde clinic became a model for other institutional psychotherapy projects around the world. Its success in providing humane and effective care for individuals with severe mental illness demonstrated the potential of alternative approaches to psychiatry. Oury's work inspired countless clinicians, researchers, and activists to challenge traditional psychiatric practices and to advocate for more patient-centered and community-based models of care.
Influence and Legacy
Jean Oury's influence extends far beyond the field of psychiatry. His ideas have resonated with thinkers and practitioners in various disciplines, including philosophy, social work, and community development. His emphasis on the importance of social context, collective responsibility, and the power of the institution to shape individual experience has had a lasting impact on the way we understand mental health and social well-being.
Key Works
- Psychiatrie et psychothérapie institutionnelle (Psychiatry and Institutional Psychotherapy) (1999): A comprehensive overview of Oury's theoretical and clinical approach to institutional psychotherapy.
- Avec et sans Freud: Parcours d'une pratique institutionnelle (With and Without Freud: Trajectory of an Institutional Practice) (2002): An exploration of Oury's relationship to Freudian psychoanalysis and his development of an alternative approach to the treatment of psychosis.
- Être fou, être folle (Being Mad, Being Mad) (2006): A collection of essays and interviews that offer insights into Oury's personal experiences and his reflections on the nature of madness.
See also
References
- ↑ Oury, Jean. The Psychiatric Hospital as an Institution. Intervention, 2006, 4(1), 4-11.
- ↑ Dosse, François. Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari: Intersecting Lives. Columbia University Press, 2010.
- ↑ Oury, Jean. Psychiatry and Institutional Psychotherapy. Karnac Books, 2015.
- ↑ Oury, Jean. The Collective Subject. Intervention, 2006, 4(1), 12-18.
- ↑ Oury, Jean. The Club Thérapeutique. Intervention, 2006, 4(1), 19-25.
- ↑ Guattari, Félix. Schizoanalytic Cartographies. Continuum, 2013.
- ↑ Oury, Jean. Being Folle, Being Fou. Semiotext(e), 2016.