ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book highlights the assumptions in the literature that have contributed to mythologizing the nature of ending and characterizing the termination phase and post-analytic experience in a particular way. It presents the authors' subjects descriptions of the termination period as well as their thoughts about their analytic work and what brought it to a close. The book provides clinical data about how analysands internalized representations of the analyst, the analytic relationship and self-understanding is affected by different kinds of social and professional post-analytic contact. It describes the functions that analysts potentially provide for analysands and compare these with what analysands are able to provide for themselves in the analysts absence. The book explores the issue of assimilation through self-analysis leading to insight, self-reflection providing affect regulation, and other ways in which the experience and benefits of treatment.
