A personal commentary on J.W. Perry, M.D., and introduction to 'Reconstitutive process in the psychopathology of the Self'.

John Weir Perry's influence on the understanding of the psychotic process through his research in San Francisco between 1950 and 1981 was groundbreaking, because it both verified and expanded upon C.G. Jung's research at the Burghölzli Hospital in Switzerland in the early 1900's. The author explores both the brilliance of Perry's contribution as a psychiatrist and Jungian analyst and also shows the flawed human, who, with his rare sensitivity to the psychotic process, devoted his life work to the schizophrenic population and their often ill-fated search for meaning. She tells how his creative engagement with the analytic processes of Self discovery eventually led to analytic boundary violations, which ultimately resulted in his indefinite suspension from membership in his local Jungian community. Further, this paper describes her reflections on the innovative work that influenced both the treatment of this population, as well as educating candidates in analytical training to be receptive to and cognizant of psychotic affects and imagery. The archetypal field of the psychotic process, its influence on the development of analytical psychology relative to the psychotic process, and one man's impact on the analytic community are considered.

L'influence de John Weir Perry sur la compréhension du processus psychotique à travers ses recherches à San Francisco entre 1950 et 1981 fut considérable. Elle confirma et élargit les recherches de C.G. Jung au Burghölzli en Suisse au début du XXème siècle. L'auteur explore d'une part l'intelligence de la contribution de Perry en tant que psychiatre et analyste Jungien et d'autre part l'être humain imparfait qui, avec sa sensibilité rare au processus psychiatrique a consacré l'œuvre de sa vie aux patients schizophrènes et à leur recherche de sens souvent tragique. Elle évoque comment son engagement créatif avec les processus analytiques de découverte du Soi l'ont finalement conduit à des violations du cadre analytique, ce qui eut pour conséquence ultime la suspension définitive de son appartenance à sa communauté Jungienne locale. De plus, cet article décrit les réflexions de l'auteur sur le travail innovant qui influença à la fois le traitement des schizophrènes et l'éducation des candidats dans la formation analytique pour qu'ils deviennent réceptifs et informés en ce qui concerne les affects et l'imagerie psychotiques. L'article s'intéresse au champ archétypal du processus psychotique, à son influence sur le développement de la psychologie analytique dans le domaine du processus psychotique, et à l'impact d'un homme sur la communauté analytique.

La influencia de John Weir Perry a la comprensión de los procesos psicóticos a través de su investigación en San Francisco entre 1950 y 1981 fue pionera, al verificar y expandir las investigaciones de C.G. Jung en el Hospital Bürgholzli, en Suiza a comienzos de l900. La autora explora tanto la brillantez de las contribuciones de Perry como psiquiatra y analista Junguiano, y también muestra al humano imperfecto, quien, con su rara sensibilidad al proceso psicótico, dedicó su trabajo de vida a la población esquizofrénica y a sus - a menudo inútiles - búsquedas de sentido. Ella cuenta como su compromiso creativo con el proceso analítico de autodescubrimiento condujo eventualmente a violaciones de los límites analíticos, las cuales resultaron en la suspensión indefinida de su membresía en la comunidad Junguiana local. A su vez, el presente trabajo describe las reflexiones de la autora, sobre el innovador trabajo que ha influenciado tanto el tratamiento de dicha población, como también el educar a los candidatos en formación analítica, a ser receptivos y conscientes de la imaginería y de las emociones en la psicosis. Son considerados el campo arquetípico en el proceso psicótico, su influencia en el desarrollo de la psicología analítica relativa al proceso psicótico y el impacto de un hombre en la comunidad analítica.

Group process in Jungian analytic training and institute life.

Group process experience for analytic candidates is a neglected dimension of training, and receives little attention in the analytic literature. Jung observed group dynamics, but he never studied them closely, attending instead to the psychology of the individual. Unconscious currents in small groups have been studied by others, most notably by Wilfred Bion, and there are similarities between his theories of the group unconscious and Jung's theories of complexes. Experiential and didactic seminars in group process were added to the analytic curriculum at the C.G. Jung Institute of San Francisco in the early 1990s, leading to changes in the group dynamic of trainees and analysts alike. A discussion of the theories of Bion and Jung are followed by a report on our experiences of facilitating group process for analytic candidates. We give quotes from candidates and analyst members to illustrate the group process and its effects. The need for further study to develop a uniquely Jungian perspective on the unconscious structure and dynamics of the group is suggested.