The past continues to operate powerfully, wordlessly, in that less conscious part of our human mind and can trip us up unexpectedly. We can perceive and respond to situations in ways which are more to do with early experiences than the present. We can push from mind what we would rather not know. Feelings such as doubt and sadness can seem too weak; envy and anger, too bad; feeling small and in any way in need, could leave us too vulnerable. Though most will never have their own experience of psychoanalysis (or less intensive psychoanalytic psychotherapy), psychoanalytic ideas can be profoundly helpful in making sense of ourselves. Having some access to those more hidden parts of our human mind, we can feel more alive, more real and less likely to act out in unexpected ways. An accessible, sympathetic and challenging guide, The Rough Beast: Psychoanalysis in Everyday Life is for all those who are curious and sceptical as to what, why and how psychoanalytic understanding is useful in everyday life. Reviews "What a range of treasures are here to be found, to be enjoyed and to be learned from. Somehow Cullington manages to cover all stages of life, and all of it simply described with her delightful imagination and skills of description, and each supported by telling clinical vignettes… All of this is so beautifully written some readers may find this book almost impossible to put down. But there are such riches to be discovered here, this remarkable book calls out to be read and re-read. There will be more to find and to enjoy with each reading. It is so readily accessible, and yet much of it so profound, it will reward readers from any stage of clinical experience and, just as readily, any ‘ordinary’ reader who is curious about psychoanalytic ideas and how these can support and enrich them along life’s journey. We are indebted to Denise Cullington for sharing with us the rich benefits of her study and life-long clinical experience. Bravo!" --Patrick Casement, author of the well-known Learning From… series of books Table of Contents: Acknowledgements Prologue 1) Introduction: What is psychoanalysis? 2) Fundamental Freud; 3) How does psychoanalysis work? 4) The downside of change Part I Analytic understanding of early life 5) The baby 6) The mother and the environment Part II Freedom of thought 7) The mad 8) The bad 9) The sad 10) The good and the sane Part III Conflict through the life stages 11) The young child and Oedipus 12) The child: Resolving or evading Oedipus 13) Early adolescence and the changing body 14) Late adolescence Part IV Adulthood 15) Love 16) Parenting 17) Work and play 18) Mid-life 19) Old age 20) Conclusion Appendices References Index About the Author Denise Cullington is a psychoanalyst in private practice in Oxford, UK. She trained at the Institute of Psychoanalysis, the Tavistock Clinic, London and as a clinical psychologist. Prior to that she lived and painted in the US and in Puerto Rico. Her book Breaking Up Blues (2008, Routledge) brought analytic thinking to the task of managing break-up and divorce. |