1st Edition
Binocular Vision An Inquiry into Psychoanalytic Techniques and Field Theory
Binocular Vision: An Inquiry into Psychoanalytic Techniques and Field Theory explains field theory from a Bionian perspective, while exploring the relationship between art and psychoanalysis.
Elena Molinari starts from Bion’s double definition to explore the relationship between the conscious and unconscious thought process. She looks at a wide range of specific situations where field theory can be beneficial, from mother-baby therapy with a borderline mother, couple and group therapy, and the relationship of female subjectivity between an analyst and an adolescent analysand. In each situation, Molinari unpicks what Binocular Vision might mean as a transformative process used to explore the primitive parts of the mind. By doing so, she brings the reader back to the earliest developments of the primary relationship between analyst and client, and how this process can unite the psychoanalytic process and the artistic process.
The book has been written for psychotherapists approaching and utilising field theory in child and adult psychoanalysis, and offers vital knowledge to clinicians working with patients in primitive states.
1. Turning the roles upside down: can a baby dream the mother’s infantile trauma? 2. Intimacy and autism: an apparent paradox 3. One child, two parents, a psychoanalyst. In other words: a group 4. Adolescent Feminine Subjectivities and the Analyst’s One: a creative crossing via transitory objects 5. Recognition takes a long journey 6. Color field painting: Bion and Rothko 7. L’Origine du monde at the end of analysis 8. Seeking comfort in an uncomfortable chair 9. The art of fielding 10. The binocular vision of a paediatrician and a psychoanalyst 11. Binocular group vision: a method to explore the less accessible areas of the mind
Biography
Elena Molinari is a psychoanalyst at the Italian Psychoanalytic Society and an International Psychoanalytical Association member. She began her professional life working as a paediatrician. She has worked as a private analyst with adults, children and adolescents. Currently she is teaching Child Neuropsychiatry for the postgraduate course in Art Therapy at Brera Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan.
"In this book, the psychoanalyst Elena Molinari presents her refined psychoanalytic thought and her keen sensitivity built up over the course of her career, which began in medicine (paediatrics) and reached psychoanalysis and art. The concepts of Bion, and of Antonino Ferro and collaborators, are developed through clinical reports and chapters on artists and their works. Reading the book provides a rich opportunity to study contemporary psychoanalytic theory and technique articulated with aesthetics." Alexandre Martins de Mello, Brazilian psychoanalyst and psychiatrist
"In her thought-provoking book, Elena Molinari delves into the intriguing concept of binocular vision in psychoanalysis, providing a fresh and comprehensive perspective on this essential topic. By skillfully navigating through various realms, from psychoanalytic theory to philosophy, she presents a compelling argument for the transformative power of binocular vision. Drawing from her extensive experience as a psychoanalyst and pediatrician, and through captivating case studies and theoretical insights, Molinari demonstrates how this dual system of reference unlocks the depths of the analytic process, illuminating the dynamics of traumas and facilitating healing. The book goes beyond the therapeutic setting to explore how art and psychoanalysis intersect. The author skillfully weaves together the works of influential figures like Bion, Beckett, and Rothko, highlighting the profound connection between creativity, powerlessness, and therapeutic transformation. This groundbreaking work challenges traditional notions of analytic practice and offers innovative tools for the psychoanalytic community. The author’s adept use of diverse disciplines and her ability to synthesize complex concepts make Binocular Vision: An Inquiry into Psychoanalytic Techniques and Field Theory a valuable resource for both practitioners and researchers alike. Its unique perspective and interdisciplinary approach breathe new life into psychoanalysis and leave a lasting impact on our understanding of the human psyche and its capacity to transform." Giuseppe Civitarese, author of Psychoanalytic Field Theory: A Contemporary Introduction (Routledge)
"In this riveting collection of linked essays exploring the complex dynamics of psychic reciprocity, Molinari harnesses her intimate appreciation of art to illuminate the movements of experiencing, meaning-making, and transformation as they emerge in a multitude of clinical settings. Gem-like vignettes capture the inspired work of a creative healer." Wendy W. Katz, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry), Columbia University Medical Center, and Training and Supervising Analyst, Columbia University Psychoanalytic Center, New York, USA
