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A Meltzer Reader: Selections from the Writings of Donald Meltzer

Editor: Meg Harris Williams

£20.69 – £27.99

An introduction to the psychoanalytic writings of Donald Meltzer on clinical work, the family, and philosophy of symbol formation. Each chapter is introduced by a different practitioner.

Editor

Meg Harris Williams
ISBN

9781912567249
Format

Paperback, e-Book, Print & e-Book
Page Extent

172
Publication Date

May 2018
Subject Areas

Bionian Psychoanalysis, Psychoanalysis
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Description

About the Harris Meltzer Trust

An introduction to the psychoanalytic writings of Donald Meltzer on clinical work, the family, and philosophy of symbol formation. The book represents a sampling of most of Meltzer’s books and each chapter is introduced by a different practitioner. Some topics included are: psychoanalysis as a human activity, dream life as the generative theatre of meaning, the delusion of clarity of insight, dimensionality, aesthetic conflict, symbol formation, and the influence of Bion’s ideas.

Contents

Contents

About the contributors

Foreword by Meg Harris Williams

1. Psychoanalysis as a human activity
introduced by Kenneth Sanders

2. Dream Life: the generative theatre of meaning
introduced by Miriam Botbol

3.Temperature and distance
introduced by Neil Maizels

4. A psychoanalytical model of the child-in-thefamily-in-the-community
introduced by Martina Campart

5. Money-Kyrle’s concept of misconception
introduced by Lars Thorgaard and Jon Morgan Stokkeland

6. The delusion of clarity of insight
introduced by Tomas Plänkers

7. Tyranny
introduced by Irene Freeden

8. Dimensionality, adhesive identification, splitting
introduced by Renata Li Causi

9. The impact of Bion’s ideas
introduced by Meg Harris Williams

10. Aesthetic conflict
introduced by Lennart Ramberg

11. On Bion’s Grid—later thoughts
introduced by Robert Oelsner

12. Sign, symbol and allegory
introduced by Grete Tangen Andersen, Morten Andersen, Trond Holm, Jon Morgan Stokkeland, Lilian Stokkeland, Eirik Tjessem

13. Some personal statements
On his analysis with Melanie Klein; Invention and discovery; The thinking breast; Religion and psychoanalysis; The principles of child psychotherapy training; The nature of supervision; Countertransference and “showing it”; Observation and counterdreaming; Good luck

Meltzer’s books and concepts

References
Index

About the Editor

About the Editor

Donald Meltzer (1923–2004) was born in New York and studied medicine at Yale. After practising as a psychiatrist specialising in children and families, he moved to England to have analysis with Melanie Klein in the 1950s, and for some years was a training analyst with the British Society. He worked with both adults and children, and was innovative in the treatment of autistic children; in the treatment of children he worked closely with Esther Bick and Martha Harris whom he later married. He taught child psychiatry and psychoanalytic history at the Tavistock Clinic. He also took a special scholarly interest in art and aesthetics, based on a lifelong love of art. Meltzer taught widely and regularly in many countries, in Europe, Scandinavia, and North and South America, and his books have been published in many languages and continue to be increasingly influential in the teaching of psychoanalysis.
His first book, The Psychoanalytical Process, was published by Heinemann in 1967 and was received with some suspicion (like all his books) by the psychoanalytic establishment. Subsequent books were published by Clunie Press for the Roland Harris Educational Trust which he set up together with Martha Harris (now the Harris Meltzer Trust). The Psychoanalytical Process was followed by Sexual States of Mind in 1973, Explorations in Autism in 1975; The Kleinian Development in 1978 (his lectures on Freud, Klein and Bion given to students at the Tavistock); Dream Life in 1984; The Apprehension of Beauty in 1988 (with Meg Harris Williams); and The Claustrum in 1992.

Meg Harris Williams, a writer and artist, studied English at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford and art at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, and has had a lifelong psychoanalytic education, working closely with Donald Meltzer. She has written and lectured extensively in the UK and abroad on psychoanalysis and literature. She is a visiting lecturer for AGIP and at the Tavistock Centre in London, and an Honorary Member of the Psychoanalytic Center of California. She is married with four children and lives in Farnham, Surrey.

3 reviews for A Meltzer Reader: Selections from the Writings of Donald Meltzer

  1. James Grotstein, psychoanalyst, Los Angeles; author, ‘A Beam of Intense Darkness: Wilfred Bion’s Legacy to Psychoanalysis’ –

    ‘Donald Meltzer was one of the most original, innovative and inspired post-Kleinian psychoanalysts. His thinking, theorizing, writings, supervision and teaching inspired whole generations of child psychotherapists and others at the Tavistock Clinic and elsewhere all over the world over many years. This sample of his writings will contribute to keeping his ideas alive and ensure his massive contribution to child and adult psychoanalysis will continue to inspire future generations of psychotherapists and analysts.
    ‘Donald Meltzer was one of the few genuinely original minds within the psychoanalytic community. His approach can inspire trainees, while his theoretical insights continue to enrich the most experienced practitioners. For those yet unacquainted with his work, this Reader provides an ideal introduction. It also shows why Meltzer’s contributions offer such fertile connections with allied fields, such as education, religion and art.’

  2. Christopher Mackenna, former director of St Marylebone Healing and Counselling Centre –

    ‘Donald Meltzer was one of the few genuinely original minds within the psychoanalytic community. His approach can inspire trainees, while his theoretical insights continue to enrich the most experienced practitioners. For those yet unacquainted with his work, this Reader provides an ideal introduction. It also shows why Meltzer’s contributions offer such fertile connections with allied fields, such as education, religion and art.’

  3. Ricky Emanuel, consultant child, adolescent and adult psychotherapist, Royal Free Hospital, London –

    ‘Donald Meltzer was one of the most original, innovative and inspired post-Kleinian psychoanalysts. His thinking, theorizing, writings, supervision and teaching inspired whole generations of child psychotherapists and others at the Tavistock Clinic and elsewhere all over the world for many years. This sample of his writings will contribute to keeping his ideas alive and ensure his massive contribution to child and adult psychoanalysis will continue to inspire future generations of psychotherapists and analysts.’

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