O analista no divã: reflexões sobre a vulnerabilidade narcísica do analista / The analyst on the couch: reflections on the analyst's narcissistic vulnerability / El analista en el diván: reflexiones sobre la vulnerabilidad narcisista del analista

Este artigo discute a importância de os analistas refletirem sobre sua própria vulnerabilidade narcísica, que se revela por meio dos sentimentos contratransferenciais provocados na relação terapêutica. Abordar essas feridas específicas e sua origem, em nossas histórias pessoais, é uma tarefa importante que os analistas precisam realizar, para evitar o enactment inconsciente, durante o encontro terapêutico. As projeções idealizadas dos pacientes contribuem para que o analista permaneça no papel de "bom terapeuta", o que pode ser em detrimento do crescimento psíquico e da transformação de ambos, na relação diádica. Reconhecer nossas limitações e dinâmicas de sombra pode colaborar para uma maior sintonia com o campo intersubjetivo entre analista e paciente.

This article discusses the importance of analysts reflecting on their own narcissistic vulnerability which is revealed through countertransference feelings provoked in the therapeutic relationship. Addressing these specific wounds and their origin in our personal histories is an important task that analysts need to undertake in order to avoid unconscious enactment during the therapeutic encounter. Idealized projections from patients contribute towards analysts remaining in the role of "good therapist", which may be to the detriment of psychic growth and transformation of both persons in the dyadic relationship. Acknowledging our limitations and shadow dynamics can contribute towards greater attunement to the intersubjective field between analyst and patient.

Este artículo discute la importancia de que los analistas reflexionen sobre su propia vulnerabilidad narcisista que se revela a través de los sentimientos contratransferenciales provocados en la relación terapéutica. Abordar estas heridas específicas y su origen en nuestras historias personales es una tarea importante que los analistas deben emprender para evitar la enactment inconsciente durante el encuentro terapéutico. Las proyecciones idealizadas de los pacientes contribuyen a que los analistas permanezcan en el papel de "buen terapeuta", lo que puede ir en detrimento del crecimiento psíquico y la transformación de ambas personas en la relación diádica. Reconocer nuestras limitaciones y dinámicas de sombra puede contribuir a una mayor sintonía con el campo intersubjetivo entre analista y paciente.

Couples living with Alzheimer's disease talk about sex and intimacy: A phenomenological qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: To obtain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of sexuality within the couple relationship when one of the partners has received a diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. This study aimed to listen to the voices of both partners, and to investigate how their intimate relationship has been impacted by an Alzheimer's diagnosis. METHODS: This study adopted a qualitative phenomenological approach, and the method used was Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The data was collected based on interviews with six couples, where one of the spouses had a mild to moderate Alzheimer's diagnosis. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, and a detailed analysis of each interview was performed. FINDINGS: From the detailed analysis of the transcribed interviews, six main themes emerged: Sexual expression today; Alzheimer's and sexuality; desire to be a sexual being; different sexualities; sense of couplehood; and uncertain future. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study provide a deeper insight into experiences of sexuality for couples living with Alzheimer's. Sexuality and intimacy of couples living with Alzheimer's continues to be an important aspect of the relationship, and in general, the partners wish to have the opportunity to express their sexuality. The construction of a sense of couplehood during the marriage tends to be a significant factor to sustain the changes that arise in the intimate relationship because of the diagnosis. However, despite the growing recognition of the existence and importance of sexuality in later life, persons with Alzheimer's have only recently starting to be recognized as sexual beings who wish to be heard.

Dementia and its impacts on the intimate, sexual couple relationship: A systematic review of qualitative research studies.

OBJECTIVE: There is growing evidence for the need to recognize persons with dementia as sexual beings who wish to continue expressing their sexuality, including within their couple relationship. The aim of this literature review was to investigate empirical qualitative studies that examined sexuality and sexual intimacy in the couple relationship when one spouse has dementia. METHOD: A systematic literature review was performed in January 2021, five data bases were searched: Pubmed, MedLine, Lilacs, Scopus, and SciELO. The references of articles included in the review were screened together with the references of other relevant reviews. RESULTS: Nine studies were identified that investigated sexuality and sexual intimacy from the perspective of the couple living with dementia or from the perspective of the spouse. The analysis identified four key themes: addressing dementia and sexuality; challenges to maintaining sexuality within the couple relationship; forms of sexual expression; and the desire to be seen as a sexual being. CONCLUSION: Despite evidence of the importance of sexuality in later life and the positive effects it has on the quality of the couple relationship, research has identified the difficulty of destigmatizing sexuality and older persons, particularly when considering couples affected by dementia. Further research is required to better understand how living with the illness impacts sexual expression and the intimacy of the couple relationship.

Sandplay therapy with couples within the framework of analytical psychology.

Sandplay therapy with couples is discussed within an analytical framework. Guidelines are proposed as a means of developing this relatively new area within sandplay therapy, and as a platform to open a wider discussion to bring together sandplay therapy and couple therapy. Examples of sand trays created during couple therapy are also presented to illustrate the transformations during the therapeutic process.