ABSTRACT
One of the manifestations of the analyst’s psychic vitality is expressed in their personal availability to connect with their analysands. Being available to become the container of another container is not only an act of generosity, service, and risk, but also a clear manifestation of the drive for life. Mental health demands mourning; that is to say, mental pain and identification. The conquest of mental health requires continuous work, “sanity, then, is not something we are born with, but, in varying degrees, painfully acquire” throughout life. The analytic relationship has its turbulent moments, which can be threatening for both participants. The quality of that conjunction will determine the possibility of connecting with anyone willing to investigate their unfathomable psychic reality.
