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October 13, 1964. TWO CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE THEORY OF WORKING THROUGH. Bernard Brodsky, M.D.
Dr. Brodsky begins with Greenson's definition of working through 'as the analytic work upon those resistances which prevent insight from leading to significant change', and expands the concept to emphasize the problem of the mastery of painful affects, especially anxiety. He traces Freud's development of the concept and points out that Freud applied the term only to the problem of id resistances that act as obstacles to the use of insight. Freud, however, recognized that rigid structuralization of ego and superego, as well as the hierarchy of danger situations, all require working through. It is in this broadened sense that the term is used by most analysts today.
The author notes that the techniques of working through, 'repetition and elaboration of interpretations as well as reconstruction of the past and its patterns', do not explain its modus operandi. It is generally agreed that 'the development of a transference neurosis accompanied by a therapeutic alliance is most favorable to a successful working through', but does not basically explain it. Freud saw 'working through as a dissipation via repeated fractional discharge of repressed drives or affects'. Dr. Brodsky emphasizes the importance of the concept