Ferenczi's Relaxation Principle and the Issue of Therapeutic Responsiveness

Helene Deutsch once said to Robert Sterba that “Ferenczi could cure even a horse.” When Wilhelm Reich exhibited a series of “pathological character traits” several members of the Viennese Psychoanalytic Society recommended that Reich “should have more analysis with Sándor Ferenczi … whose reputation as a brilliant therapist was acknowledged by all of us” (Sterba, 1982, p. 88). When Clara Thompson asked Henry Stack Sullivan who she could seek out for analysis having reached an impasse in her first therapy, he did not hesitate to recommend Ferenczi (Rachman, 1998a). It should also be remembered that when Ernest Jones turned to Freud for an analysis, Freud recommended Ferenczi.

Ferenczi was not only a favorite of other analysts but his special clinical capacities were sought out by patients. Mrs. F. H. was a seriously disturbed individual who had many therapy experiences over a twenty-year period that did not improve her emotional difficulties. However, in analysis with Ferenczi, by her own report, she showed the most marked improvements (Mrs. F. H., 1952, 1954). And, of course, Ferenczi's Clinical Diary discussed a host of difficult cases, the most famous of which was Elizabeth Severn (R.N.) (Ferenczi, 1932). Ferenczi's capacity to help Severn, a seriously traumatized individual, was legendary.

I have cited these examples of Ferenczi's famous clinical ability to underscore my general thesis: The changes in analytic method that Ferenczi pioneered were a result of his clinical genius, his capacity for intellectual daring, and a willingness to examine his own functioning—all fueled by a deep desire to help even the most difficult cases. He was named “the analyst of difficult cases” for several reasons: (1) Analysts of his era (including