ABSTRACT
The relationship between erotic transference and creativity is further developed in this chapter. Erotic transference is not solely a resistance to treatment; treatment can involve a resistance to erotic transference, the dynamics of which can have parallels in the inhibition of creativity. The detrimental impact of resistance to erotic desire and romantic love for the analyst is addressed. Erotic transference too often is viewed as representing solely a problem to be analyzed. The absence of erotic transference in many treatments is often taken for granted. A clinical vignette of a lesbian patient with her female analyst is elaborated to illustrate the connection between erotic transference and creativity within the analytic field. Although in this case example the transference was homoerotic, the themes have relevance to any of the gendered treatment dyads. After focusing on the dynamics of the case, the author then discusses more generally certain shared features of erotic transference and creativity, as well as erotic inhibitions on the part of clinicians.
