ABSTRACT
Dissociated experiences are often communicated to analysts. Clinicians may absorb patients’ dissociation, thereby creating “counterdissociated” states. Counter dissociation contributes to binary thinking in the analyst similar to black-and-white thinking commonly seen in patients’ dissociated states. This can have both positive and negative effects: Counter dissociation may help therapists identify with patients’ experience, thereby cementing the therapeutic bond. If analysts remain counterdissociated, however, patients may remain dissociated. As analysts identify their counterdissociation, they may gain insight into patients’ needs for dissociation. As they overcome counterdissociation, patients may concurrently overcome dissociation. This allows both to have a more nuanced view of inner experience. With two extended case studies of sexually abused men, this article tracks how an analyst deals with counterdissociation created through intimate contact with dissociated positive and negative introjects of victimizers, thus forming identifications or over-identifications with the patients’ abused parts.
