A Memoir of Psychoanalytic Process, Theory, and Transformation : "What Was That?"

A Psychoanalytic Memoir of Process, Theory, and Transformation is a deeply introspective exploration of the transformational journey of Rory G. Rothman, tracing her evolution from childhood artist to seasoned psychoanalyst.

A Psychoanalytic Memoir of Process, Theory, and Transformation is a deeply introspective exploration of the transformational journey of Rory G. Rothman, tracing her evolution from childhood artist to seasoned psychoanalyst. Through personal narrative, theoretical synthesis, and clinical case illustrations, Rothman delves into the profound question of “How do I work?”—a query posed by her mentor decades earlier. The memoir weaves together her artistic sensibility, early life experiences, and engagement with psychoanalytic theorists such as Bion, Winnicott, and André Green to reveal how these influences shaped her distinctive clinical style. Rothman integrates Modern Psychoanalytic techniques, French Psychosomatics, Field Theory, and the ontological turn, demonstrating how these approaches converge in practice. Extended case studies highlight the challenges and triumphs of working with patients at the edge of psychosis, severe trauma, and unrepresented psychic states, offering a compelling look at transformation rather than cure. This book is ideal for psychoanalysts, psychotherapists, and graduate students in psychoanalytic and clinical psychology training programs seeking to deepen their understanding of clinical practice. It will also resonate with social workers, mental health professionals, and scholars interested in psychoanalytic writing, creativity, and transformation.