The Anatomy of Psychotherapy by Lawrence Friedman: A Commentary

Lawrence friedman has included a number of his previously published papers in a book that dissects the therapist's experience of psychotherapy. He argues that stress and theory comprise that experience, with stress obscured in theory and theory performing the treatment. The theory he refers to is psychoanalytic theory, but the application he seeks is to dynamic psychotherapy as well as to psychoanalysis.

Friedman is a physician in his early 60s. During his psychiatric residency, he taught philosophy. He is now Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Cornell Medical School (APA Biographical Directory, 1989; Biographical Directory of the APA, 1977). Friedman regards much of psychoanalytic theory from the vantage point afforded by philosophy. He is a member of an illustrious company in psychoanalysis who have benefited from the rigors of that discipline. In addition, he adds a historic perspective from the evolvement of nineteenth century thought that reveals the ideational foundations upon which psychoanalysis was built. He is a member of the editorial board of Psychoanalytic Quarterly.

Section I begins with the statement, “Doing psychotherapy is stressful.” While discomfort is reflected in theory, which seeks to create