ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses some of our maturational experiences and viewed them from several theoretical perspectives. The maturation of the analyst has much in common with psychic development in general. The aspect of psychic growth that is essential to our conception of maturation in the analyst is the idea that becoming an analyst involves a process of 'dreaming oneself more fully into existence' in progressively more complex and inclusive ways. Working with a coauthor involves an experience of having a built-in editor or consultant who can offer an 'outside' perspective on the other author's clinical material. The coauthors view the emotional experience that Ogden describes as a current response both to his memory of his work with Mr. A and to Gabbard's comments on his written account of that experience. This exchange between the coauthors constitutes a type of maturational experience that was of value to both authors.
