Burgoyne Bernard

This book records a series of groundbreaking discussions that took place in 1994-95 between a number of prominent Kleinian and Lacanian psychoanalysts. The aim of the presentations and the debates that followed was to allow for dialogue, as well as controversy, to take place. Respecting the convictions of the other and allowing their expression in their own terms became a prerequisite in the dialogue. Topics discussed included phantasy, sexuality, counter-transference, the unconscious, interpretation and technique, and child analysis. The meetings provided an opportunity for reflection upon the implications for respective positions and an appreciation of the sensitivities of both schools.

Since it was founded in 1920, the Tavistock Clinic has developed a wide range of psychotherapeutic approaches to community mental-health which have always been strongly influenced by psychoanalysis. In the last thirty years it has also developed systemic family therapy as a new theoretical model and clinical approach to family problems. The Clinic has become the largest training im3titUtion in Britain for work of this kind, providing post-graduate and qualifying courses in social work, psychology, psychiaay, child, adolescent and adult psychotherapy and, latterly, in nursing. It trains about 1200 student each year in over 45 courses.