£17.24 – £22.49
A book which examines sexuality, gender, and the training of group analysts from a group analytic perspective that also bridges into feminist theory, queer theory, and education theory. It offers a new concept of sexuality that draws on the unique psychosocial and creative potential inherent in group analysis.
Read Dr Daniel Anderson’s absorbing blog on Sexuality, gender, and the body.
| Author | Daniel Anderson |
|---|---|
| ISBN | 9781912691906 |
| Format | Paperback, e-Book, Print & e-Book |
| Page Extent | 234 |
| Publication Date | September 2021 |
| Subject Areas | Gender & Sexuality, Group Analysis, Psychoanalysis |
The Body in the Group has been structured around the formation of a group analytic concept of sexuality, using the archaeology of Michel Foucault to move away from psychoanalytic theory, with its association to heteronormativity and pathology, on which group analysis has historically relied. The failure of group analysis to have its own theory of sexuality is, in fact, its greatest potential. It is a psychosocial theory that is able to contain failure in language and gaps in discourse, and, furthermore, can mobilise its creative potential in relation to the discourse of sexuality. Furthermore, using queer theory enables the failure of the term ‘homosexual’ by disrupting its association to heteronormativity and psychopathology that traditional psychoanalysis has emphasised.
The potential of the group analytic matrix to disrupt and change discourse by conceiving of it using figurations and their associated political radicalism within language and discourse permits a radical conception of space and time. Bi-logic removes the potentially unhelpful competitive splits in power associated with the politics of sexuality and gender and, by doing so, enables multiple and contradictory positions of sexuality and gender to be held simultaneously. In addition, group analysis radically alters typical notions of ethics by being able to conceive of a psychosocial form of ethics. Likewise, queer theory raises an awareness for group analysis of the potential violence of its textual representation. Finally, analytic groups are ‘figurations in action’ when terms such as group polyphony, embodiment, discursive gaps, and norms (or no-norms) are mobilised alongside spatio-temporality and bi-logic. The group analytic literature so far has delimited sexuality and gender by over-reliance on psychoanalysis. Daniel Anderson, by utilising group analytic theory alongside the archaeology of Foucault and feminist, queer and education theory, has created an exciting and innovative way of working with sexuality in a group analysis setting.
Dr Daniel Anderson is a consultant psychiatrist, group analyst, and medical psychodynamic psychotherapist. He works part-time at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in the psycho-oncology service, and part-time in private practice in Manchester and Chester. He initially specialised into old age psychiatry before moving into consultation-liaison psychiatry. He is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Institute of Group Analysis, the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy, and the British Psychoanalytic Council. His areas of research interests include mental health in relation to sexuality and gender; the mental health of clinicians; the training of doctors and psychotherapists; and the use of psychological therapies in old age and liaison psychiatry. He has held substantive and honorary academic positions at the University of Central Lancashire, Bangor University, and the Institute of Mental Health (University of Nottingham). He was the medical director of The Retreat independent mental health hospital in York for three years until 2016.
Preface
About the author
Permissions
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part I: Failure and the embodied field
1. The field imaginary of sexuality in group analysis
2. The discursive failure of the ‘homosexual’
Part II: The group as figuration
3. Figurations in group polyphony
4. “Something is missing”
Part III: Re-reading sources and curricula
5. Queering the group analytic paradigm
6. The discursive production of group analysts in the UK
Conclusion: Mobilising a generative dialogue
References
Index
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Martin Weegmann, psychologist, group analyst, and author –
‘If it takes courage and clarity for an individual to know their shadows and to embrace change, this is equally true for organisations, like psychotherapy institutions. Daniel Anderson’s book, written with courage and clarity, beautifully deconstructs many of the assumptions and (dubious) comforts of our historical orthodoxies as group analysts. In the words of gay pioneer Harvey Milk, “once you have dialogue starting, you know you can break down prejudice”.’
Margaret Smith, group analyst, psychodynamic psychotherapist, and former course convenor of the Institute of Group Analysis supervision course –
‘This is a well-written, well-informed, and well-argued academic book. I highly recommend it as a textbook for all course modules on gender and sexuality. It should be essential reading for teaching trainees on psychotherapy and group analytic trainings. It would also be highly relevant to those training to work in the field of couple counselling and family therapy and as a reference book for clinical supervisors.’
Jackie Stacey, Professor of Media and Cultural Studies and Director of the Centre for the Study of Sexuality and Culture, The University of Manchester –
‘Here, at last, is a book that successfully puts academic debates about gender and sexuality studies into dialogue with group analytic theory and practice. Using historical and contemporary case studies, this new study brings to light the blind spots as well as the remarkable achievements of group analysis. Drawing on his own professional training and experiences, the author offers a fascinating route through how and why group analysis has – and importantly has not – addressed questions of gender and sexuality.’
Baljit Kaur, group analyst and social worker –
‘Daniel Anderson has started a much needed conversation around sexuality and gender and respectfully challenged the complacency we all, including institutions, fall into. We need to take responsibility for addressing the gaps we have in analytic training around difference. Our training as therapists centres around language and putting words to often very difficult and sensitive situations, yet we have struggled to challenge traditional thoughts around what is normative and we continue to normalise dated and dangerous language around sexuality.’
Jos de Kroon –
Jos de Kroon
Psychiatrist, Lacanian psychoanalyst, former head of psychiatric specialisation, and author – 16/10/2021
Daniel Anderson’s book breathes a broad orientation in gay, lesbian and gender issues, in which both the discourse analysis of Michel Foucault and the theory of sexuality and identity of Jacques Lacan play a central role. This approach comes in handy in the practice of group psychoanalysis to get a better grip on problems and questions about the own sexual identity of the group members. The book pays also extensive attention to the political and social aspects of gay, lesbian and gender issues. The author understands the art of explaining in a clear language some more complex concepts about sexuality and discourse analysis. He will reach a wide audience with this book.