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Ripples in mental space caused by dark matters and twisted tales: Some reflections on memory, memoirs and therapeutic work
No full textIn this paper, the author reflects on the issues of memory and the writing of personal memoirs, and how this impinges on our professional work. Her title is drawn in part from the work of theoretical physicists who can hypothesise about the existence of dark matter by measuring the deformations it causes in surrounding stars and galaxies. What she suggests is that there may be limitations in keeping strictly to disciplinary boundaries, and our professional lives may defy our efforts to box them in. The opening of doors to a more extensive world of ideas is often helpful, both for psychoanalysis and for the fields which it can illuminate and by which it can also be illuminated. She uses the example of the publication and critical reception of her own memoir, Pieces of Molly to make links with our professional selves and our clinical work. She draws on the work of Freud, and other seminal thinkers in the field, as well as her own clinical work to illustrate the ways in which mental space and the memories within it can be contained and transformed over time, but also can be beset by both internal and external saboteurs
New perspectives on the dynamics of the adoption triangle using biographical, literary and psychoanalytic sources
No full textThe difficulty of qualitative research in the area of adoption process is the starting point for this work. Forms of data gathering and analysis that will capture the emotionality of adoption participants are outlined. The aim was to extend our psychoanalytic understanding of the dynamics of the ‘searching’ phenomenon in the adoption triangle. A review of the psychoanalytic literature pertinent to adoption was compiled and the applicability of the core concepts explored. There was a clear fit between these tools and the task of understanding the multi-layered nature of adoption. A systematic thematic analysis of narrative accounts of the lived experience of four subjects at each of the three points of the triangle (12 in total), revealed a number of new themes. Many of them were not found in the existing literature in the same way. It was apparent that the majority of the themes were evident in all three positions of the adoption triangle. The most significant among these was evidence of a particular kind of ‘triangular psychology’. The adoption triangle members were consistently preoccupied at many levels with those occupying both the other two positions. This stands in some contrast to a tendency in the literature to assume that subjects are dyadically preoccupied with those occupying just one of the other positions. This research suggested that all were triadically relating within the triangle. The empirical work in this research suggests the manner in which these preoccupations persist through time in complex and fluid interactions with each another. The idea of ‘triangular psychology’ illuminates the phenomenon of the ‘search’ as a core existential predicament in the lives and minds of adoption participants. In addition, a systemic thematic review of two novels in which adoption is a major theme was undertaken. The analysis of the novels (one from the 19th century and one from the 21st century) had a remarkable concordance with the themes from the research interviews. The vast majority of the interview themes were also present in the work by the two novelists. The implications for therapeutic work are considered. A more three dimensional way of thinking about object relationships is required when psychotherapy is offered to adoption related individuals
Developing an understanding of people’s experiences of using tracing services to search for missing family: A qualitative investigation
No full textBeing present for each other: Long-distance video-linked seminars
No full textThis paper describes technical issues in setting up and using long-distance learning equipment. It also describes aspects of long-distance learning during stages of the learning process and evaluations of the method. The use of the countertransference is also discussed as an important aspect of the work
The 2011 riots - 'them' and 'us'
No full textThe 2011 riots were ‘a wake-up call’ to do something about hardship and despair at the bottom end of society. Frank Lowe asks where psychotherapists should position themselves
An exploration of constructions of meanings narrated by a cohort of older people in relation to their mental illness, its connection to and impact on ageing and familial relationships
No full textThe genesis of this study came from a wish to contribute to the evidence base of systemic and narrative therapies with the cohort with whom I work clinically, that is elders suffering with mental health difficulties. Its subject matter and methodology were influenced by recognition of the paucity in the literature of both subjective experiences and narrative research studies with this client group. In this study nine elders with mental health problems narrated experience of mental health, their family relationships and ageing. Identification of themes around these three areas of interest were made and analysis of narrative variables such as influence of past, present, local and wider cultural narratives, narratives of time, coherence, performance of preferred narrative selves and influence of audience were made. Service implications for Narrative and Systemic therapy with elders and wider service planning were considered in light of findings. Throughout, reflexive consideration was made by the researcher and this is included, particularly in the conclusion, in the write up
Classical and novel psychoactive substances: Rethinking drug misuse from an evolutionary psychiatric perspective
No full textIn this article, ontogenetic and phylogenetic causes of drug abuse and links to human emotional development are considered. Some evolutionary perspectives (e.g. that under certain conditions, consumption of otherwise toxic alkaloids may confer both physical and cultural advantages) are reviewed. As described in the ‘mismatch theory’, the capacity of the human genome to evolve defences against toxins has been outstripped by the pace of cultural change and technological development, such as purposeful fermentation of alcohol and more recently distillation of alcohol; purification and chemical manipulation of plant alkaloids; and the engineering of entirely novel psychoactive substances (NPS). The functions of the neurobiological substrates that mediate substance misuse and dependence are reviewed. Reasons are given why NPSs present greater cause for concern than plant‐derived substances of abuse. We argue that evolutionary biology provides an important orientation for the research agenda in substance misuse