Herbert Hahn – författare

This book has two essential aims. First, to introduce some of the key assumptions behind relational psychoanalysis to an international audience and to outline the points where this approach counters, complements, or extends existing object relations (Kleinian and Independent) traditions. Second, to consider some of the implications of the relational turn for the application of psychoanalytic concepts and methods beyond the consulting room. The emergence of what has become known as "the relational turn" in psychoanalysis has interesting implications not just for clinical practice, but for other psychoanalytically informed practices, such as group relations, the human service professions, and social research. Relational forms of psychoanalysis have emerged primarily in the USA, and as a result their core concepts and methods are less well-known in other countries, including the UK. Moreover, even within the USA, few attempts have so far been made to consider the wider implications of this development for social and political theory; intervention in groups and organizations, and the practice of social research.

This is an edited collection, which begins with the promise of an "organic" book, developed by means of group dialogue between the contributors.The book covers an intriguing range of topics, including playback theatre, social dreaming, socio-drama, psycho-political analysis, deep ecology and "alchemical" transition, all viewed through the lens of group work. The contributors are trainers, consultants and analysts, drawing mainly from psychoanalytical perspectives.'- Community CareGroupwork is a constantly evolving area, and the authors of this book seek to encourage, inspire and lure practitioners into thinking new thoughts and developing new methods. A range of experienced and respected group workers explore developments in their specific fields of practice, moving from well-established approaches towards newer ideas. Subjects covered include experiential groups, merging and splitting, group therapy and planetary awareness, social dreaming, playback theatre and sociodrama. The authors show how group-analytic concepts can be creatively drawn on in the context of, for instance, business practice or inter-European relationships.Running through the book are themes such as the sustainability of working from traditional theory in an ethos of continuous change, and the development of theory and practice across internally or externally constructed boundaries. Developed by means of a group dialogue process between the contributors, this exciting and challenging book reflects the way in which groupwork is changing and moving beyond orthodoxy, and will inspire practitioners in this field.