ABSTRACT

The consultative interview provides an opportunity for two people, a prospective analysand and a psychoanalyst, to get together to pool their information and arrive at a mutually agreed-upon conclusion of use to the person seeking help. Yet, in anticipation, the prospect of a consultation seldom feels reassuring to the person contemplating treatment. Many people feel a cross between anxiety at facing an "examination" (one might be found unacceptable or "sicker" than expected) and apprehension at embarking into the unknown. Small wonder then that, for many, in coming to the first consultative interview, a funny thing happens on the way to the office. "Oh, I lost my way and I must have taken a wrong turn." "I'm sorry I'm late. I thought I had enough time, but I discovered I didn't have enough gas in the car so I had to stop." "When I was sitting in your waiting room I suddenly had the thought, this isn't the right day. Then you came out. I was relieved." Analysts are familiar with the mixture of apprehension and doubt people bring to the consulting room. Usually, as a first step, they will attempt to make the experience more comfortable. In a sense that's what I hope to do here, by drawing a picture of what you might expect.