“For Each Hour Bears a Special Magic” – How Psychoanalysts Work in Times of Plurality

Given the many differences in the way analysts work, is it possible to describe, systematically organize and compare these differences? To answer these questions the author draws upon his experience in two European Working Parties, the End of Training Evaluation Project (ETEP) and the Comparative Clinical Methods Project (CCM). CCM demonstrates that it is possible to find an adequate conceptual frame to systematically describe how different analysts work and ETEP shows criteria can be formulated for a successful outcome of psychoanalytic training which psychoanalysts of different theoretical orientation could agree upon. Both projects differ in one aspect. Whereas CCM is basically descriptive ETEP aims at formulating criteria for evaluation. Both projects however converge in one essential endeavor: Defining the essentials of psychoanalytic clinical work. In a time when a disorganized pluralism threatens to dilute psychoanalysis into a mixture of different psychotherapeutic approaches it is of utmost importance to define and cultivate the essence of psychoanalysis. Only then psychoanalysis can stay alive in theory and clinical practice and will develop.