Issue 1 – February 2012

Editorial

Enikő Albert-Lőrincz

 

ARTICLES

Methodological study

Gábor Flaskay, Éva Gyomlai: Mentalisation in psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy

Questions of practice

Csaba Elblinger, Linda Alföldi: Christmas and family identity or recreating the family

Questions of practice

Adrienn Kroó, Lilla Hárdi: The experience of torture among refugee women

Questions of practice

Kriszta Rendes: Along borders. Adolescence as a field in between

 

PROFESSIONAL LIFE

Discussions

Comments to János Rudas’ letter on language questions – Bokor László ¨ Gábor Szőnyi ¨ Albert Veress

Ethical questions in therapeutic practice – Rita Hencsey ¨ István Ormay ¨ Edit Péter

Reflections

Letter to the Editor – Réka Szemerédy

News and reports

Conferences – Enikő Albert-Lőrincz ¨ István Tiringer

Book reviews

Books – Kázmér Karádi ¨ Zsuzsa Lovas ¨ Eszter Páli ¨ Aranka Tiringer ¨ István Tiringer

Lists of professional books

Animula ¨ Medicina ¨ MentalPort ¨ Oriold és Tsai ¨ Ursus libris

Announcement of results of the journal’s art competition

Professional programs


Methodological study

Gábor Flaskay, Éva Gyomlai:

Mentalisation in psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy

In our paper first we outline the general situation and the change of outlook we face in the psychoanalytically oriented therapies from the 70-es. Those changes made it possible to integrate the appearing mentalisation concept. We would like to transmit a view which reflects this integrative model made up of the traditional psychoanalytic approach and the mentalisation approach. Our paper takes stand on the question how the classical point of view regarding the efficiency of the therapeutic intervention (for example insight) and the by today traditional „learning from relational experience” approach fit in with mentalisation. We emphasize the importance in the atmospheric change of the therapeutic situation and stress the significance of the supportive attitude. We conceive the therapeutic relationship as an attachment situation forming the basis to alter the non-mentalising (affect reduction motivated) functioning to a mentalising one. The development of mentalising psychic functioning requires special therapeutic technique, though in our point of view, in long term therapies the helping mentalising attitude should be completed with traditional explorative techniques. Case vignette serves as illustration.

Key words: mentalisation – supportive attitude – attachment – mentalisation and interpretation

 

Questions of practice

Csaba Elblinger, Linda Alföldi

Christmas and family identity or recreating the family

Interpreting the family as a cultural system directs attention to exceptional events of family life that bear special emotional and symbolic significance and reoccur in a set time each year as a characteristic feature of our culture. According to Wolin and Bennett’s (1984) classical typology of rituals, celebrations are a special group of rituals which play an important role in families’ self-definition, in the subjective perception of belonging to the wider culture, and in expressing such feelings of communality. The question arises, which are the factors of the families’ self-image that are addressed by Christmas. The present study aims at investigating those family identity contents for which the cultural messages of Christmas celebrations serve as signals. It also investigates the factors that challenge families in their efforts to “reunify” their members at the times of the celebration. Certain therapeutic considerations are discussed as well.

Keywords: Christmas – cultural meanings – holiday/celebration interactions – family identity – family therapy

 

Questions of practice

Adrienn Kroó, Lilla Hárdi:

The experience of torture among refugee women

The aim of torture is to cause severe pain and suffering in order to undermine the values, beliefs, and self-concept of the victim. The specialists have developed various diagnostic categories to describe the multifaceted sequel of torture: survival syndrome, torture syndrome, complex posttraumatic stress disorder. A common feature of these syndromes is the emphasis of identity changes as a result of dramatisation, which is a particular goal of the perpetrators. The experienced physical pain and bodily reactions contribute greatly to the psychological consequences of torture. The psychological pressure and physical pain together force the victim into a submissive and regressive position, leading to the fragmentation of personality, and causing long-lasting shame, humiliation, and fear among survivors. The therapy of torture survivors involves the reconstruction of trust, intimacy, attachment and identity, and the formation of a new trauma narrative. The second part of the article presents the case of three tortured women refugees and their therapies. The case studies stem from therapeutic work in Hungarian refugee shelters, and they present the reality and common features of female torture survivors. The relationship between torture, identity, body identity, attachment and sexuality is a central focus of all three cases.

Key words: torture – identity – body – attachment – sexuality

 

Questions of practice

Kriszta Rendes:

Along borders. Adolescence as a field in between

The present article analyses the adolescent transformations and the developmental tasks that puberty represents such as changing relationships with parents, self-ownership, identity, career development and studies – with special focus on changes regarding the body; including the role of physical and sexual development and claiming ownership over one’s body. Direct or indirect verbal or physical violations committed against the maturing body and body-awareness cannot be ignored when working with this age group. Another aspect of adolescent therapy is the necessity of taking immediate action in all cases of self-harming. The question is: What is the most appropriate form of care for the adolescent age group – since they are between two major developmental stages: childhood and adulthood. Traditional methods used with children or adults are not inevitably adequate because of the transitional nature of adolescence. This article discusses possible forms of care and support, as well as the difficulties one might encounter as psychologist working with young, adolescent people.

Keywords: adolescence – tasks during adolescence – ownership of the body – consultancy for adolescent’s in 4 sessions

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