On the Termination of Analysis1

Astonishingly, the topic of termination of analysis has very rarely been the subject of psycho-analytic investigation. Obviously it represents a great number of theoretical, clinical, and particularly technical problems. Of the many I should like to take up only a special one: the transference, or, more cautiously expressed, one typical transference situation as it exists at the time of the termination of the analysis. Before doing this, however, I should like to turn first to the existing literature. To my knowledge there are only two papers that deal with this subject: Freud: 'Analysis Terminable and Interminable' and Ferenczi: 'The Problem of Termination of Analysis.' These two papers represent an interesting contrast in their outlook, we might say in their emotional atmosphere. Freud's paper is full of wisdom and scepticism. He is reviewing as if for the last time the therapeutic results of his work. He is pointing out everything that is uncertain, he is revealing whatever he considers the limitations of therapeutic effectiveness. Ferenczi, on the other hand, is full of optimism. He gives us an idea of what he considers a completed analysis; he gives us a wealth of technical advice and clinical details which are pointed out as the preconditions for a completed analysis. Here two aspects are most interesting: (1) The analysis of character traits, of ego behaviour patterns which developed as protective automatisms in the course of instinct repression and have to be retraced in the analysis to their origin. The rigid crystallization of character has to be dissolved again if a real re-education of the patient is to be achieved. This will lead to infinite inner freedom combined with a complete ego control. For this purpose Ferenczi pleads for a thorough analysis of facial expression, postural peculiarities and so on, and proposes the imitation of the patient as a suitable method for bringing these behaviour patterns to the attention of the patient