{"id":3394,"date":"2025-11-07T11:26:07","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T14:26:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/?post_type=articulos_revista&#038;p=3394"},"modified":"2025-12-14T11:20:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T14:20:22","slug":"commentary-on-david-scharffs-family-session-material-and-on-the-concept-of-link-3","status":"publish","type":"articulos_revista","link":"https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/en\/articulos_revista\/commentary-on-david-scharffs-family-session-material-and-on-the-concept-of-link-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on David Scharff\u2019s family\u00a0session material and on the concept of link"},"content":{"rendered":"<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-animq-b63d6f66ac53489a69bf17b25483917a\">\n.avia-section.av-animq-b63d6f66ac53489a69bf17b25483917a{\nbackground-color:#f2f2f2;\nbackground:linear-gradient( to bottom, #f2f2f2, #ffffff, #f2f2f2 );\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-animq-b63d6f66ac53489a69bf17b25483917a main_color avia-section-small avia-shadow  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-first  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-3394'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mhoy8h0a-4846f120698fc10410aa6a1bd48e0731\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-mhoy8h0a-4846f120698fc10410aa6a1bd48e0731{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-mhoy8h0a-4846f120698fc10410aa6a1bd48e0731 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-mhoy8h0a-4846f120698fc10410aa6a1bd48e0731 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-mhoy8h0a-4846f120698fc10410aa6a1bd48e0731 av-special-heading-h1 blockquote modern-quote modern-centered  avia-builder-el-1  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '><div class='av-subheading av-subheading_above'><p>REVIEW N&deg; 6 | YEAR 2009 \/ 2<\/p>\n<\/div><h1 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Commentary on David Scharff&rsquo;s family session material and on the concept of link.<\/h1><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_2'  class='avia-section av-qqmcmq-31c218f0f1477c3dbd523d43a06f022d main_color avia-section-small avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-3394'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n<div  class='flex_column av-2koen6-ef7241295dc628fb7ba5d09e721229d8 av_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-3  el_before_av_one_half  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div  '     ><div  class='avia-buttonrow-wrap av-orwwtu-1468572399e60e45a077f02121d8001e avia-buttonrow-left  avia-builder-el-4  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-n0mqxu-02cbc670f12bf7ea862900ce96bd4376\">\n#top #wrap_all .avia-button.av-n0mqxu-02cbc670f12bf7ea862900ce96bd4376{\nborder-radius:50px 50px 50px 50px;\ntransition:all 0.4s ease-in-out;\nmargin-bottom:5px;\nmargin-right:5px;\n}\n#top #wrap_all .avia-button.av-n0mqxu-02cbc670f12bf7ea862900ce96bd4376:hover .avia_button_background{\nborder-radius:50px 50px 50px 50px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<a href='https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/en\/revista\/review-number-6\/'  class='avia-button av-n0mqxu-02cbc670f12bf7ea862900ce96bd4376 avia-icon_select-yes-left-icon avia-size-small av-button-notext avia-color-dark'   ><span class='avia_button_icon avia_button_icon_left avia-iconfont avia-font-entypo-fontello' data-av_icon='\ue830' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' ><\/span><span class='avia_iconbox_title' ><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><div  class='flex_column av-kxpcgi-4f7b4bf85360e86e0dc1400f994952d4 av_one_half  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_one_fifth  el_before_av_one_fourth  flex_column_div  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-idny1u-c09c89d0eb71fd395134bd62c361fcba '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><div class=\"escritores\">Author: <a href=\"https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/en\/escritor\/keogh-timothy-en\/\">KEOGH Timothy<\/a><\/div><div class=\"escritores\">Language: <a href=\"https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/en\/idioma_articulo\/english\/\">English<\/a><\/div><div class=\"palabras-clave\"><div class=\"secciones_revista\">Section: <span><a href=\"https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/en\/secciones_revista\/panel-en\/\">PANEL<\/a><\/span> <\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><div  class='flex_column av-1sygpu-c804bd3c176e31e146ae432862a0dca0 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_one_half  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div  '     ><div  class='avia_search_element av-fyvl76-489da57cf26d81a9a43583d026875338  avia-builder-el-8  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '><search><form action='https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/' id='searchform_element' method='get' class='' data-element_id='av-fyvl76-489da57cf26d81a9a43583d026875338' ><div class='av_searchform_wrapper'><input type='search' value='' id='s' name='s' placeholder='BUSCAR' aria-label='BUSCAR' class='av-input-field ' required \/><div class='av_searchsubmit_wrapper av-submit-hasicon'><span class='av-button-icon av-search-icon avia-iconfont avia-font-entypo-fontello' data-av_icon='\ue803' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' ><\/span><input 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fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-3394'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'><p>\n<div  class='flex_column av-ccy5uq-ffd51666c7796b01c13598b27aeec340 av_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-10  el_before_av_four_fifth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div  '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mhoy8nbi-a5d0fcf7e723af16da76a72d2d7036ca\">\n.avia-image-container.av-mhoy8nbi-a5d0fcf7e723af16da76a72d2d7036ca img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-mhoy8nbi-a5d0fcf7e723af16da76a72d2d7036ca .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-mhoy8nbi-a5d0fcf7e723af16da76a72d2d7036ca av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-11  el_before_av_hr  avia-builder-el-first '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class='wp-image-3367 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-3367 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulo06-en-495x400.png\" alt='articulo06-en' title='articulo06-en'  height=\"400\" width=\"495\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulo06-en-495x400.png 495w, https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/articulo06-en-845x684.png 845w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-a5ad42-5bfb01748c39f2d5bb6248a22298c7aa\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-a5ad42-5bfb01748c39f2d5bb6248a22298c7aa{\nheight:10px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-a5ad42-5bfb01748c39f2d5bb6248a22298c7aa hr-invisible  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avia-size-large av-icon-on-hover avia-color-theme-color'  target=\"_blank\"  rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"  aria-label=\"Download PDF\"><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Download PDF<\/span><span class='avia_button_icon avia_button_icon_right avia-iconfont avia-font-entypo-fontello' data-av_icon='\ue82d' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' ><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/p><\/div><div  class='flex_column av-6icabm-dabc42ba92ef7c243ecd59e6a57e6c28 av_four_fifth  avia-builder-el-14  el_after_av_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div  '     ><p>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-4tuuz6-efed7bf029a7c21d9a0e4d68bf0c77a2\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-4tuuz6-efed7bf029a7c21d9a0e4d68bf0c77a2{\nmargin:-10px -10px -10px -10px;\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-4tuuz6-efed7bf029a7c21d9a0e4d68bf0c77a2 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-4tuuz6-efed7bf029a7c21d9a0e4d68bf0c77a2 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-4tuuz6-efed7bf029a7c21d9a0e4d68bf0c77a2 av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-15  el_before_av_hr  avia-builder-el-first '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >PANEL<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='hr av-2wykuq-d49bfbbf0a83a47a1a5efd488b35bff2 hr-default  avia-builder-el-16  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_textblock '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mhoya094-6ac1e4347b0381cae0e1bafc6abf7543 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h3>Commentary on David Scharff&rsquo;s family &nbsp;session material and on the concept of link<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Timothy Keogh<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It has been suggested that the suitability for treatment and the likelihood of successful treatment outcome with a couple or family are influenced by factors such as the level of bi-directionality (or, in attachment terms, the level of secure attachment) in the partners, the amount of interweaving of the unconscious phantasies of both partners (that is, the underpinning interphatasmic weft) and the level of motivation for treatment (de Forrster and Spivacow, 2006).&nbsp; Making conscious the link between presenting problems in the couple\/family and the underlying and unconscious object relations is the core of the work in object relations couple and family therapy.&nbsp; When the family or couple is seen as the patient, then psychotherapy can be seen to create a multilayered, bi-personal field that allows for the emergence of the basic unconscious phantasies of the family\/couple (Baranger &amp; Baranger, 2009). In this [intersubjective] field, the therapeutic work does not only consist of the re-discovery of the internal world of the parties and its pathological interplay (often in the form of a projective deadlock), but also in the opening up possibilities of re-structuring, creating and inventing via projective and introjective mechanisms.&nbsp; The ability to make use of links offered by interpretative work represents a development in the therapeutic process, which usually follows from a phase of containment resulting in less reliance on paranoid schizoid forms of relating and defence. This makes it more likely that the interpretations can be heard as helpful. It is at this point that the family\/couple can begin to make links between their transference reactions to the therapist(s) and to each other.<\/p>\n<p>In the current clinical material, the family has just retuned from a break (and a reduction) in sessions with their therapist (and the mother&rsquo;s individual therapist). Difficulties are reported which <sup>&nbsp;<\/sup>suggest that a regression has occurred during the break. Mother says, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think things are going very well sexually between Lars and me.&rdquo; The focus is on the couple&rsquo;s capacity for sexual intercourse. One becomes aware, however, that the family has experienced a failure to maintain a link with their absent object, which has caused them to lose their connection with each other.<\/p>\n<p>Powerful unconscious forces have been at play. The neediness of the family and their inability to tolerate the feelings of separation and loss have resulted in their denial of the impact of the separation. The importance of the children&rsquo;s play, as part of the family&rsquo;s unconscious communication about this issue, helps to identify what has happened. The play scene reveals the underlying anger at being left and implicates this anger in unconscious attacks on the therapist.&nbsp; The therapist also gains more evidence of this aggression in the form of self attack and the crash in self esteem that it caused.<\/p>\n<p>At this point in the session the therapist begins to interpret the link between the collapse on self esteem (and indirectly the sexual difficulties) to his absence. The father has difficultly with this first foray of linkage. The therapist, presumably because he believes that the father is at a point of being able to hear such an interpretation, presses on and connects the internal attacks on linking with the inability to think about the concept put to him.<\/p>\n<p>In terminology reminiscent of describing fearful attachment, the therapist interprets the withdrawal and bad feelings about self that seem to accompany a separation or loss.&nbsp; He says, &ldquo;You feel very hard hit by many things&hellip;. You feel it by feeling. You lose your sense of self worth.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A type of transmutative interpretation (linking the transference phenomena with original trauma) is attempted when the therapist says, &ldquo;And I know from what you have told me that it&rsquo;s linked to the sense of losing your father. That is an area where you felt you didn&rsquo;t get help and on the contrary that&rsquo;s something that was painful.&rdquo; Having opened up the link between the family&rsquo;s\/couple&rsquo;s experience of the break and their recent difficulties, a further link is opened up by attempting to identify the needy (hungry) aspect of the family. Once again, the children&rsquo;s play provides the unconscious material for this in the form of the puppet show and, in particular, the appearance of the hungry pig. This moves the session in the direction of a more direct transference interpretation about the family&rsquo;s anger for leaving them alone in their hungry and needy state and how difficult it is to bear these feelings.&nbsp; As such, it &nbsp;has caused a slide to a more paranoid-schizoid level of functioning resulting in attacks on linking with the internal good object that has been building up during the psycho-therapeutic work.<\/p>\n<p>The family&rsquo;s tractability, however, and their return to more depressive anxieties during the session, seems to suggest they have made gains from the work they have done with the therapist, the evidence being the way in which the family are able to recover the good object and their willingness and strengthened ability to make the necessary links as they move more and more out of &ndash;K mode.<\/p>\n<p>There is a sense of relief when their son announces, &ldquo;The good guys won.&rdquo; Ultimately, the therapist is able to make the important interpretation, &ldquo;But if you don&rsquo;t know you are angry or upset, then what we have is this sort of disintegration of things and that really costs you a lot!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Timothy Keogh<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3367,"template":"","categories":[],"secciones_revista":[12751],"numero_publicado":[12450],"descriptores":[],"class_list":["post-3394","articulos_revista","type-articulos_revista","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","escritor-keogh-timothy-en","idioma_articulo-english","secciones_revista-panel-en","numero_publicado-n06-2009-2-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articulos_revista\/3394","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articulos_revista"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/articulos_revista"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3367"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3394"},{"taxonomy":"secciones_revista","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/secciones_revista?post=3394"},{"taxonomy":"numero_publicado","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/numero_publicado?post=3394"},{"taxonomy":"descriptores","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aipcf.net\/revue\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/descriptores?post=3394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}