ABSTRACT
Central to my understanding of the holding metaphor is the assump tion that holding describes a containing function that operates well beyond the bounds of infancy and also well beyond the needs and experiences of the patient in a regression to dependence. In the next two chapters, I extend the concept of holding in ways that explicitly address its therapeutic function, first in work with issues of self involvement and then around problems of hate and self-hate. Despite the conceptual limitations of the parallels between mothering and psy choanalysis (see Chapters 2 and 3), I remain convinced of the useful ness of such comparisons. I believe that the origins of core affective experiences for both analyst and patient may be found in a careful examination of the complex subjectivity of mother and child. For this reason, before addressing the holding theme in the treatment setting, I once again return to early development and the evolution of the theme of self-involvement.
