Basic theoretical assumptions underpinning Faimberg's method: "Listening to listening".

In this article, the author reviews the basic theoretical assumptions that underpin Faimberg's method of "listening to listening." It is emphasized that these assumptions cannot be altered without radically altering the method itself. A new and complex definition of "basic assumptions" that the author proposes helps us to understand how the logic of the method can "capture" the logic of the unconscious. One of the aims of the method is to hold a clinical discussion in a group in the frame of an "as yet situation," a basic assumption of the author (originally designed for the clinical situation) that concerns psychic temporality. It concerns the situation that has not happened … yet, up to the moment we begin to discover, with surprise, the presenter's basic assumptions when working with his patient. Special attention is given to the impact of each participant's basic assumptions on how he engages in the discussion. This constitutes the main goal of the method. The method was originally devised to overcome the tendency to listen to clinical presentations on the basis of a privileged and unique theoretical perspective (whether or not recognized as such). The "listening to listening" function on which the method is based has its origin in a clinical concept proposed by the author. On the basis of "listening to listening," a particular kind of misunderstanding can be detected. If, instead of being regarded as an obstacle, the misunderstanding is analysed through the method in question, recognizing the misunderstanding may offer the best possible way of gaining access to the different basic assumptions in play. The co-creation of a common language is another one of the aims of the method - a language whereby it becomes possible to recognize differences, so that the recurrent temptation can be more easily overcome of creating a single way of working in psychoanalysis. It recognizes differences instead of idealizing "sameness." Recognition of otherness is the basic theoretical assumption most valued by the originator of the method, who is also the author of this article.

The paternal function in Winnicott: the psychoanalytical frame.

My first aim has been to identify the implicit assumptions underlying Winnicott's detailed notes on a fragment of an analysis dating from 1955 and published after his death. The importance given by Winnicott to the father figure as early as 1955 is one of my discoveries; another is the deep Freudian roots of his thinking. In this essay I propose a new way of linking together the concepts of 'paternal function' and the 'psychoanalytical frame'. Developing my hypothesis, I compare my reading of Winnicott and my way of reading José Bleger's study on the frame. Like Winnicott, I explore in detail a process of discovery, focusing on what the analyst and the patient are nor fully aware of …'as yet'. I am not proposing to unify Winnicott's and Bleger's thinking. My aim is to avoid the pitfall of eclecticism and, in so doing, to recognize both the related depths they sound in their thinking and their otherness. I want to share with the readers their 'meeting' in my mind.

The "as-yet situation" in winnicott's "fragment of an analysis": your father "never did you the honor of" yet.

The author proposes a new hypothesis in relation to Winnicott's "Fragment of an Analysis": that as early as 1955, in the case described in this text, Winnicott is creating the paternal function in his patient's psychic functioning by implicitly linking his interpretations regarding the father to the Freudian concept of Nachträglichkeit. The author introduces an original clinical concept, the as-yet situation, which she has observed in her own clinical work, as well as in Winnicott's analysis of the patient described in "Fragment of an Analysis" (1955).

Método "a escuta da escuta" / Método "la escucha de la escucha" / "Listening to listening" method

Com frequência, o material clínico é escutado a partir de um único pressuposto básico. Em nossos grupos, procuramos não apenas escutar o apresentador e reconhecer os pressupostos básicos com que escuta seu paciente, mas também reconhecer os nossos pressupostos básicos, aqueles com os quais escutamos tal apresentação. Usamos a função de "escuta da escuta", originalmente proposta (Faimberg, 1981) para a escuta da sessão. Exploramos o impacto produzido pelos pressupostos básicos de cada participante (incluindo os do apresentador), sobre a discussão em si. Escutamos o hiato entre o que o participante acreditava dizer e como foi efetivamente escutado. Faz-se, assim, possível explorar fontes de mal-entendido, bem como pressupostos básicos de cada um de nós. Cocriar uma linguagem em comum aponta para o entendimento mútuo na discussão, respeitando a alteridade de cada um. O projeto não consiste, portanto, em propor que, como analistas, trabalhemos de maneira similar.(AU)

Con frecuencia el material clínico es escuchado desde un único supuesto básico. En nuestros grupos procuramos no solamente escuchar al presentador y reconocer los supuestos básicos con los que escucha a su paciente, sino también reconocer nuestros propios supuestos básicos con los que escuchamos la presentación. Usamos la función de 'la escucha de la escucha' que originalmente había propuesto (H, Faimberg 1981) para la escucha en la sesión. Exploramos el impacto que producen los supuestos básicos de cada participante (incluyendo los del presentador) sobre esta misma discusión. Escuchamos el hiato entre lo que el participante creía decir y cómo fue efectivamente escuchado. Resulta así posible explorar las fuentes de malentendido y explorar los supuestos básicos de cada uno de nosotros. Co-crear un lenguaje en común significa entendernos en la discusión, respetando a nuestra alteridad. El proyecto no consiste, en consecuencia, en proponer que, como analistas, trabajemos en forma similar.(AU)

Quite often clinical material is heard from one chosen implicit basic assumption. It is part of our goals to train ourselves in listening not only to recognise the presenter's clinical assumptions with which he listens to his patient, but to recognise our assumptions as well. We use the function of "listening to listening", which H. Faimberg (1981) had initially limited to the psychoanalytical listening in the session. We explore the impact that the theoretical assumptions of each participant (including the presenter) have on the discussion itself. From the gap existing between what the participant thought he was saying and how he was heard we begin to co-create a common language to understand each other in our otherness (and not as a project of working as analysts in a similar way). The sources of misunderstanding may appear and by doing so we begin to recognise the basic assumptions of each participant.(AU)

Método "a escuta da escuta" / Método "la escucha de la escucha" / "Listening to listening" method

Com frequência, o material clínico é escutado a partir de um único pressuposto básico. Em nossos grupos, procuramos não apenas escutar o apresentador e reconhecer os pressupostos básicos com que escuta seu paciente, mas também reconhecer os nossos pressupostos básicos, aqueles com os quais escutamos tal apresentação. Usamos a função de "escuta da escuta", originalmente proposta (Faimberg, 1981) para a escuta da sessão. Exploramos o impacto produzido pelos pressupostos básicos de cada participante (incluindo os do apresentador), sobre a discussão em si. Escutamos o hiato entre o que o participante acreditava dizer e como foi efetivamente escutado. Faz-se, assim, possível explorar fontes de mal-entendido, bem como pressupostos básicos de cada um de nós. Cocriar uma linguagem em comum aponta para o entendimento mútuo na discussão, respeitando a alteridade de cada um. O projeto não consiste, portanto, em propor que, como analistas, trabalhemos de maneira similar.

Con frecuencia el material clínico es escuchado desde un único supuesto básico. En nuestros grupos procuramos no solamente escuchar al presentador y reconocer los supuestos básicos con los que escucha a su paciente, sino también reconocer nuestros propios supuestos básicos con los que escuchamos la presentación. Usamos la función de 'la escucha de la escucha' que originalmente había propuesto (H, Faimberg 1981) para la escucha en la sesión. Exploramos el impacto que producen los supuestos básicos de cada participante (incluyendo los del presentador) sobre esta misma discusión. Escuchamos el hiato entre lo que el participante creía decir y cómo fue efectivamente escuchado. Resulta así posible explorar las fuentes de malentendido y explorar los supuestos básicos de cada uno de nosotros. Co-crear un lenguaje en común significa entendernos en la discusión, respetando a nuestra alteridad. El proyecto no consiste, en consecuencia, en proponer que, como analistas, trabajemos en forma similar.

Quite often clinical material is heard from one chosen implicit basic assumption. It is part of our goals to train ourselves in listening not only to recognise the presenter's clinical assumptions with which he listens to his patient, but to recognise our assumptions as well. We use the function of "listening to listening", which H. Faimberg (1981) had initially limited to the psychoanalytical listening in the session. We explore the impact that the theoretical assumptions of each participant (including the presenter) have on the discussion itself. From the gap existing between what the participant thought he was saying and how he was heard we begin to co-create a common language to understand each other in our otherness (and not as a project of working as analysts in a similar way). The sources of misunderstanding may appear and by doing so we begin to recognise the basic assumptions of each participant.

Método "a escuta da escuta" / Método "la escucha de la escucha" / "Listening to listening" method

Com frequência, o material clínico é escutado a partir de um único pressuposto básico. Em nossos grupos, procuramos não apenas escutar o apresentador e reconhecer os pressupostos básicos com que escuta seu paciente, mas também reconhecer os nossos pressupostos básicos, aqueles com os quais escutamos tal apresentação. Usamos a função de "escuta da escuta", originalmente proposta (Faimberg, 1981) para a escuta da sessão. Exploramos o impacto produzido pelos pressupostos básicos de cada participante (incluindo os do apresentador), sobre a discussão em si. Escutamos o hiato entre o que o participante acreditava dizer e como foi efetivamente escutado. Faz-se, assim, possível explorar fontes de mal-entendido, bem como pressupostos básicos de cada um de nós. Cocriar uma linguagem em comum aponta para o entendimento mútuo na discussão, respeitando a alteridade de cada um. O projeto não consiste, portanto, em propor que, como analistas, trabalhemos de maneira similar.

Con frecuencia el material clínico es escuchado desde un único supuesto básico. En nuestros grupos procuramos no solamente escuchar al presentador y reconocer los supuestos básicos con los que escucha a su paciente, sino también reconocer nuestros propios supuestos básicos con los que escuchamos la presentación. Usamos la función de 'la escucha de la escucha' que originalmente había propuesto (H, Faimberg 1981) para la escucha en la sesión. Exploramos el impacto que producen los supuestos básicos de cada participante (incluyendo los del presentador) sobre esta misma discusión. Escuchamos el hiato entre lo que el participante creía decir y cómo fue efectivamente escuchado. Resulta así posible explorar las fuentes de malentendido y explorar los supuestos básicos de cada uno de nosotros. Co-crear un lenguaje en común significa entendernos en la discusión, respetando a nuestra alteridad. El proyecto no consiste, en consecuencia, en proponer que, como analistas, trabajemos en forma similar.

Quite often clinical material is heard from one chosen implicit basic assumption. It is part of our goals to train ourselves in listening not only to recognise the presenter's clinical assumptions with which he listens to his patient, but to recognise our assumptions as well. We use the function of "listening to listening", which H. Faimberg (1981) had initially limited to the psychoanalytical listening in the session. We explore the impact that the theoretical assumptions of each participant (including the presenter) have on the discussion itself. From the gap existing between what the participant thought he was saying and how he was heard we begin to co-create a common language to understand each other in our otherness (and not as a project of working as analysts in a similar way). The sources of misunderstanding may appear and by doing so we begin to recognise the basic assumptions of each participant.

A plea for a broader concept of Nachträglichkeit.

The broader conceptualization of Nachträglichkeit proposed by the author can play an active part in the process of assigning new meaning retroactively (usually through interpretation)--and even giving a meaning, for the first time (usually through construction)--to what the analysand says and cannot say. It gives us a conceptual frame of unconscious psychic temporality with which to explore how psychoanalysis produces psychic change. Winnicott's "Fear of Breakdown" (1974) is paradigmatic of this broader conceptualization of Nachträglichkeit (see Faimberg 1998). A clinical example is presented (Kardiner 1977) to illustrate why the author believes that her proposal remains true to Freud's (1937) conception of psychic temporality and construction.