ABSTRACT
Potential space is one of the least understood and most ignored of Winnicott’s concepts. But I argue that it is crucial for understanding the goals of psychotherapy. Potential space is the space “in which we live.” If potential space is empty our lives are empty. If potential space is full, our lives are full. The task of the therapist is not to try and fill the client’s potential space. Rather, it is to discover and repair potential space damage that stems from disruption of the early separation/individuation stage of development.
