Does technique require theory?

Abstract

In a personal 30-year overview of his analytic career, the author uses extensive case examples to describe how his techniques were influenced first by classical Freudian psychoanalytic theory, then Kleinian theory, object relations theory, and self psychology, respectively. The author concludes that satisfactory results can be achieved with any theoretical perspective, providing the therapist has the ability to become attuned to the patient's central affect states. Therapists who can see the patient's point of view can then interpret that understanding so that the patient can experience being understood, often for the first time in life.