ABSTRACT
Ferenczi and Severn enjoyed a dimension of a therapeutic relationship rarely established. They considered each other colleagues as well as mutual analytic partners. Their collegial relationship and analytic partnership helped develop the paradigm shift of the Confusion of Tongues. Severn’s psychological and developmental needs combined with her assertive and outgoing personality moved her to desire a more human than neural therapeutic relationship. Her traumatic childhood background demanded that her analyst provided a human therapeutic relationship, which Severn asked for and Ferenczi struggled to provide. Even though their relationship was very difficult, they both were motivated and determined to analyze her severe traumas. The analysis with Severn expanded the boundaries of the active and empathic analytic approach, first clinically, and then it was developed into the new theoretical formulation.
