Counter-Transferential Conflicts as Emergent Relational Properties and “Symptoms” of the Analyst

Francesca Colzani (this issue) provides rich opportunities to think through many aspects of relational psychoanalysis, but this paper focuses on power and authority in the analytic space. Accepting a definition of authority as the authorization to act, and power as the ability to effect change, I hope to track power and authority in Francesca Colzani’s case material with special reference to the analyst’s contribution to the emergent properties of the analytic relationship, a focus that attracts me to relational psychoanalysis.

As I read Colzani’s paper, it seemed that her authorization came from at least five sources: her analyst; her patient; us her audience; herself; and, paradoxically, the Greek chorus of her training institution, which she experienced as deauthorizing and yet paradoxically inspired her to authorize herself. She refused the refrain “this is not analysis” and sang solo, perhaps with the hope that we her readership might provide alternative accompaniment. Given the quality of Colzani’s engagement with Elisa, I hope that in a similar vein an encounter with IARPP will provide Colzani with “amplification” and a “return” of her authorization.

Being authorized to speak to the issue of power and authority in the analytic space, both by Colzani and IARRP, for which I thank them, I wish to step into this position. I found Colzani’s voice to be like that of her patient, strong and velvet-like. The soothing nature of the prosody and intonation of her voice can be inferred from the extent to which she succeeded in containing Elisa in the face of provocation. Elisa was further contained by Colzani’s tact and discretion as she dwelt in negative capability. Through this containment Elisa moved from crying to singing—Del Ilanto al canto—and I hope Colzani will be facilitated by her courageous publication to be similarly moved.

Elisa’s move from crying to singing was enabled by the myriad ways power was co-constructed in this particular analytic dyad, including thro