Creative Engagement in Psychoanalytic Practice.

Abstract

Think of Henry Markman’s offering as a musical album with thirteen tracks, and when you read/listen along, you will find this metaphor is no stretch. For one thing, Markman writes explicitly about music as metaphor, jazz in particular, as he elaborates distinct forms of psychoanalytic accompaniment and improvisation in clinical practice. He even goes so far as to recommend for the reader specific pieces of music that illustrate distinct ways a drummer accompanies the soloist. For example, the palpable and energetic presence of Elvin Jones on drums provides John Coltrane with non-impinging “steady rhythmic support”—a pulse—that is “both strong and relaxed” on Coltrane’s Impressions (p. 127). If you find it on your preferred music platform and listen along, you can hear and feel what Markman means. As someone not at all musically versed, I found this and the book as a whole to