ABSTRACT
Recognition of the limits of therapeutic relationship enables the client to speak of love and death. Questions are raised about the nature of the erotic transference. The ability to confront emotions in analysis liberates the patient to be able to speak more directly to his friends. Dreams raise the theme of sex and love with symbolic reference to the analyst. Countertransference and the realities of the analyst’s feelings about the deepening relationship are openly explored. Reasons for maintaining the boundaries are elucidated as discussion of love became relatively easy. More dreams bring the spectre of dying into the frame and the patient is anxious about contaminating the analyst. The fee is paid and a dream reveals how the difficulty in paying is now giving way to gratitude and acceptance. This brings dreams of violence to the fore. The need for boundaries is illustrated with regard to the case material and the very demanding transference countertransference dynamic. Confronting the possibility of dying has to be faced after a check-up reveals the tumour has recurred.
