ABSTRACT
The responses and self-understanding of the researcher are also central to containment, including the capacity for distance and understanding, alongside empathic immersion in the story, and to be able to process and feed back what might be difficult issues, in digestible form. Linden has used psychodynamic ideas in Masters and Doctoral programmes in developing auto/biographical reflections and research methodology. Linden’s psychodynamic approach to research builds on the life history or biographical approach which embraces the idea of relationship and a dynamic co-creation of text or story. For example, the psychodynamic approach to teaching adopted in the MA at Sussex was built into the structure and content of the whole programme, and, in some kinds of work, a therapeutic training will be essential. Celia convened a Masters programme on the use of creative writing as a developmental and therapeutic tool at Sussex University for fourteen years.
