The activation of unconscious fantasies involving the gratification of symbiotic or oedipal wishes can create a positive psychotherapeutic effect. This assertion is illustrated with reference to an extended experimental research program. While insight remains the primary agent of change in psychoanalytic treatment, the activation and use of symbiotic and oedipal fantasies can also serve as important therapeutic elements. The use of such fantasy material can facilitate the process of gaining insight if such living out of the transference is occasional rather than frequent and if these experiences are ultimately interpreted at some point. This use of fantasy has been referred to in the psychoanalytic literature as transference gratifications, corrective emotional experiences, establishing a holding environment, identification with the analyst, and using the analyst as an auxiliary superego.