The Clinical Problem of Masochism

Masochism is explored by contemporary psychoanalytic thinkers in a nuanced and complex fashion. Clinicians will find many ideas about the meaning and function of masochism relevant to their work with patients. The book is filled with case studies that provide helpful examples of interventions that can free patient-clinician pairs from treatment impasses.

The term masochism brings to mind some of the most difficult theoretical problems, and some of the most troublesome clinical dilemmas, in psychoanalysis. Some people actively seek pain, suffering, and humiliation. Who are they? How did they come to these strategies? What are their clinical manifestations? How can we understand them? How can we help them? Deanna Holtzman and Nancy Kulish have assembled the foremost thinkers in the field–ego psychology, object relations, Kleinian, self-psychology, developmentalist–to explore these questions, offer illustrations of their clinical work, and provide support for practitioners who experience the pain of working with these suffering patients. This volume belongs on the shelf of any therapist who works with patients who have masochistic themes to their characters, and that means all patients.

Deanna Holtzman, PhD is a Training and Supervising analyst and Past President of the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute. She is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine at Wayne State University and an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the University of Detroit. She is the President of the Sigmund Freud Archives, Inc. and has co-authored two books with Nancy Kulish.

Nancy Kulish, PhD is a Training and Supervising Analyst and Past President of the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute. She is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine at Wayne State University and an Adjunct professor of Psychology at the University of Detroit. She has co-authored two books with Deanna Holtzman and published numerous articles on transference/countertransference, gender, and female sexuality.