Aging, Dying, and the Analytic Process

Psychoanal Rev. 2024 Mar;111(1):11-23. doi: 10.1521/prev.2024.111.1.11.

Abstract

The panel discussion presented at the New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute's 1066th Scientific Meeting held on June 8, 2023, takes up aging and dying of an analyst and their impact on patients and on the nature of analytic process. Participants reflect on conflicts and challenges arising with more analysts and patients living to an advanced age, on the unregulated nature of analysts' retirement, and on multilayered meanings of analysts' ethical commitment to their work.

Keywords: aging; death of an analyst; psychoanalysis vs. psychotherapies; psychoanalytic process; retirement; self-disclosure; self-knowledge.

MeSH terms

  • Aging
  • Humans
  • Psychoanalysis*
  • Psychoanalytic Therapy*