I welcome the opportunity to respond to the concerns of Emanuel Berman, one of our leading Ferenczi scholars. He describes mutual analysis as “a thoughtful and systematic attempt to develop a more effective analytic technique.” He goes on to state, “There is a crucial difference, however, between critically evaluating experimental treatment methods and stigmatizing them in toto as boundary violations.” He compares Ferenczi's innovations with McLaughlin's report of allowing a patient to grasp his hand in one session and with Renik's self-disclosures.

I disagree with Dr. Berman's point in two respects. First, to regard mutual analysis as something other than a boundary violation strains