CITATION: Gliserman, M. (1993). Contact function: A theoretical & historical framework. Modern Psychoanalysis, 18(2), 215–235.

ABSTRACT: Situates contact functioning (i.e., the direct contact between patient & analyst that provides a unique opportunity to discover, develop, & co-evolve the relationship of analysand & analyst as well as the internal relationships of each), placing interpretation next to contact functioning. Theoretical ramifications of the contact functioning are perceived as the meeting place of the drive & object. It is suggested that whatever other constructs play into the development of the contact function, the matter of interpretation is key. From certain angles, it is in contrast to interpretation that the contact function stands. The analyst must both interpret the contact & move one step beyond that. The interpretation used to be made directly to the patient; now the analyst is more likely to make an interpretation to her/himself & express her/himself to the patient in the patient's own language.

CONTACT FUNCTION: A THEORETICAL & HISTORICAL FRAMEWORK

INTEGRATIVE DBT & PSYCHOTHERAPY