ABSTRACT
Catherine likewise reflected on her internal experience as an attenuated version of her patient’s unexpressed feeling that prompted the dissociation. She explained that her feelings of uncertainty, loneliness, and doubts about her competency that arose in the midst of the patient’s dissociation “might be some of what she’s experiencing.” She clarified her sense that the patient was anticipating “that something harsh and hurtful and critical is going to come my way and I’m all alone and I need to protect myself.” She saw her own anticipation of harm and experience of loneliness as a result of coming into contact with the patient’s feeling state during the dissociation. Catherine identified these resonant states as a result of her efforts to “reconnect” and “be present” with the patient through the dissociation.
