Thomas Ogden
Thomas H. Ogden (born 1946) is an American psychoanalyst renowned for his contributions to relational psychoanalysis, particularly his development of the concept of the "analytic third," his exploration of dreaming as a form of thinking, and his emphasis on the intersubjective nature of the analytic experience.[1] His work bridges Kleinian and intersubjective perspectives, offering a nuanced understanding of the analyst's participation in the therapeutic process and the co-creation of meaning in the analytic relationship.
- Projective Identification and Psychotherapeutic Technique (1982)
- The Primitive Edge of Experience (1989)
- Subjects of Analysis (1994)
- Reverie and Interpretation (1997)
- Conversations at the Edge: Dialogues on Psychoanalysis and Culture (2015)
Biography
Ogden's intellectual development was shaped by his clinical training and his engagement with various psychoanalytic traditions, including Kleinian, British Independent, and intersubjective approaches. His work reflects a deep commitment to understanding the complexities of the analytic relationship and the role of unconscious communication in shaping the therapeutic process.
Education and Early Career
Ogden received his medical degree from Yale University and completed his psychiatric residency at the Yale Psychiatric Institute. He then pursued psychoanalytic training at the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California, where he is currently a Training and Supervising Analyst.[2] His early work was influenced by his mentors, including Michael Balint and Donald Meltzer, who emphasized the importance of the analyst's subjective experience and the role of unconscious communication in the analytic process.
Institutional Affiliations
Ogden is a member of the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA) and has held various leadership positions within the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California. He is also a frequent lecturer and presenter at psychoanalytic conferences and workshops around the world. His institutional affiliations reflect his commitment to the transmission of psychoanalytic knowledge and the ongoing development of psychoanalytic theory and practice.
Engagement with Psychoanalysis
Ogden's engagement with psychoanalysis is characterized by his commitment to clinical practice, theoretical innovation, and the integration of diverse psychoanalytic perspectives. He is known for his ability to bridge seemingly disparate theoretical frameworks, such as Kleinian and intersubjective approaches, and for his emphasis on the analyst's subjective experience as a crucial element in the analytic process.
Clinical Practice and Technique
Ogden's clinical practice is informed by his theoretical understanding of the analytic relationship as a co-created space in which both analyst and patient are actively involved in shaping the therapeutic process. He emphasizes the importance of the analyst's capacity for reverie, or the ability to allow oneself to be affected by the patient's unconscious communication, as a means of gaining access to the patient's inner world.[3] He also stresses the importance of the analyst's self-analysis and the ongoing exploration of one's own unconscious biases and assumptions.
Theoretical Reinterpretation and Critique
Ogden's theoretical work involves a reinterpretation and critique of traditional psychoanalytic concepts, such as projective identification and transference, in light of his emphasis on intersubjectivity and the analytic third. He argues that these concepts must be understood as relational phenomena that are shaped by the interaction between analyst and patient. He also challenges the notion of the analyst as a neutral observer, arguing that the analyst's subjective experience is always present in the analytic process and must be acknowledged and explored.
Theoretical Contributions
Ogden has made several significant theoretical contributions to contemporary psychoanalysis, including his development of the concept of the analytic third, his exploration of dreaming as a form of thinking, and his emphasis on the intersubjective nature of the analytic experience.
The Analytic Third
The concept of the "analytic third" is perhaps Ogden's most well-known contribution to psychoanalytic theory. He describes the analytic third as a jointly created space that emerges from the interaction between analyst and patient.[4] This space is neither solely the product of the analyst's mind nor solely the product of the patient's mind, but rather a new and emergent reality that is co-created by both participants in the analytic process. The analytic third is a space of potential transformation, where new meanings and understandings can emerge that were not previously available to either analyst or patient.
Dreaming
Ogden views dreaming not simply as a discharge of psychic energy or a disguised expression of unconscious wishes, but as a form of thinking in its own right.[5] He argues that dreams are a way of working through and making sense of difficult or traumatic experiences. He emphasizes the importance of paying attention to the emotional atmosphere of the dream and the ways in which the dream reflects the dreamer's relationship to themselves and others. He also suggests that the analyst's own dreams can provide valuable insights into the analytic process.
Intersubjectivity
Ogden's work is deeply rooted in the intersubjective perspective, which emphasizes the mutual influence and reciprocal interaction between analyst and patient. He argues that the analytic relationship is not simply a matter of the analyst understanding the patient, but rather a process of mutual discovery and co-creation. He stresses the importance of the analyst's empathy and attunement to the patient's subjective experience, as well as the analyst's willingness to be affected by the patient's unconscious communication.
Autistic-Contiguous Position
Ogden introduced the concept of the "autistic-contiguous position" to describe a primitive mode of experience characterized by a lack of differentiation between self and other.[6] This position is thought to be a precursor to the paranoid-schizoid and depressive positions described by Melanie Klein, and it is characterized by a sense of being overwhelmed by undifferentiated sensory input. Ogden argues that understanding the autistic-contiguous position is crucial for working with patients who have experienced severe trauma or who struggle with issues of self-identity.
Influence and Legacy
Ogden's work has had a significant influence on contemporary psychoanalytic theory and practice, particularly in relational psychoanalysis. His concepts of the analytic third, dreaming, and intersubjectivity have been widely adopted and applied by psychoanalysts around the world. He has also inspired a new generation of psychoanalytic thinkers and clinicians who are committed to exploring the complexities of the analytic relationship and the co-creation of meaning in the therapeutic process. His emphasis on the analyst's subjective experience and the importance of self-analysis has also helped to promote a more humanistic and relational approach to psychoanalytic practice.
Key Works
- Projective Identification and Psychotherapeutic Technique (1982): Explores the concept of projective identification and its implications for psychotherapeutic technique.
- The Primitive Edge of Experience (1989): Examines the earliest forms of mental organization and their impact on later development.
- Subjects of Analysis (1994): Develops the concept of the analytic third and its role in the analytic process.
- Reverie and Interpretation: Sensing Something Human (1997): Explores the importance of reverie in the analytic process and its connection to interpretation.
- This Art of Psychoanalysis: Dreaming and the Unspoken (2005): Examines the role of dreaming in psychoanalysis and its connection to unconscious communication.
See also
References
- ↑ Ogden, Thomas H. (2004). Conversations at the Edge: Dialogues on Psychoanalysis and Culture. Karnac Books.
- ↑ Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California Faculty Page. Accessed October 26, 2023.
- ↑ Ogden, Thomas H. (1997). Reverie and Interpretation: Sensing Something Human. Jason Aronson.
- ↑ Ogden, Thomas H. (1994). Subjects of Analysis. Karnac Books.
- ↑ Ogden, Thomas H. (2005). This Art of Psychoanalysis: Dreaming and the Unspoken. Routledge.
- ↑ Ogden, Thomas H. (1989). The Primitive Edge of Experience. Karnac Books.