Clinical: W. P. Farrow, M.A., D.Sc. Experiences with Two Psycho-Analysts. Psyche, 1925, Vol. V, p. 234.

This paper is a critical examination of the technique of two (Freudian) psycho-analysts from the patient's standpoint. The writer (who was the patient) considers that the first analyst, whom he attended for three months, made a serious mistake by refusing to allow him to develop his own thoughts. The second analyst saw him for two hours daily for three and a quarter months, and according to the patient created certain forms of hostility by hastiness and loss of temper which destroyed the possibility of positive transference. The author states that he has no quarrel with the true Freudian technique but only with his two analysts, whom he thinks departed from this technique. In both cases he takes exception to certain prohibitions which were imposed regarding note-taking and dream analysis; he also resented the analyst's wish to direct his associations along certain channels. In spite of these criticisms the patient admits that the effect of the analyses was to make him much more contented and happy. He thinks that the analytical time was very well spent and that psycho-analysis is a very sound and beneficial process. He considers that his two hours daily for five days a week spent with the second analyst was of more value to him than the one hour daily with the first because it was more difficult to dodge unpleasant material in the longer time.