Relational theory : new growth in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy

Although psychoanalysis is sometimes viewed as something of a dinosaur, perhaps especially by practitioners of cognitive behavioural therapies, contemporary psychoanalytic theory and practice continues to evolve in a number of ways and locations, and to offer both clinical depth and intellectual rigour to a growing number of psychotherapists around the world. Amongst the various contemporary psychoanalytic schools, the body of theory and practice known as 'relational psychoanalysis' is arguably one of the most important and influential recent developments. Described as an 'emerging tradition' by Mitchell and Aron (1999), relational analytic theory embodies a profound epistemological shift from a 'one person' psychology (classical psychoanalysis) to complex relational or intersubjective fields. Annie Stopford provides a general overview of relational psychoanalysis, with an accompanying discussion on how the relational turn has affected her psychotherapeutic practice illustrated with a clinical example.