Leading articles

THE VIENNA PSYCHOANALYST wants to give not only already internationally established psychoanalysts, but also still unknown psychoanalysts the opportunity to post a self-written and not yet published article on the FrontPage of our online magazine!

Our Users then can leave comments, ask questions or discuss the articles in our forum. Our aim is to provide an international platform where for the first time anyone interested in psychoanalysis can exchange ideas on certain topics.
Articles are welcome in German and/ or English.

If you are interested, please send your article to
leadingarticle@theviennapsychoanalyst.at


(For reasons of readability, the male form is used with personal names, however the female form is also always intended.)

In our interview series "in conversation with“, we will briefly present the authors of the leading articles. We want to give our users the opportunity to read the leading article from a different point of view.


This week we are very glad to welcome Katrin Hofer from Vienna, Austria:

Since 10/2015 in private practice, 1090 Wien
Since 10/2015 employment with the Association of Austrian psychotherapists
Since 10/2015 working on her PhD at the Sigmund Freud University Vienna with the working title "Träume in der Schwangerschaft - eine psychoanalytische Betrachtung der Bedeutung der Schwangerschaft für die Frau (dreams during pregnancy - a psychoanalytic consideration of the importance of pregnancy for women)"
2015 Magistra in Psychotherapy Sciences at the Sigmund Freud University Vienna with "Wünsche und Ängste in Träumen von Schwangeren. Versuch einer psychoanalytischen Interpretation (desires and fears in dreams of pregnant women. Attempt of a psychoanalytic interpretation)"
 Since 06/2013 candidate
2012 Bakkalaurea in Psychotherapy Sciences at the Sigmund Freud University Vienna " Persönlichkeitsstörungen bei Jugendlichen und Kindern. Die Wichtigkeit des frühen Erkennens, um richtig zu intervenieren und die Problematik des Diagnostizierens (Personality disorders in adolescents and children. The importance of early recognition to intervene properly and the problem of diagnosing)"



DWP: What brought you to psychoanalysis?

Katrin Hofer: At first it was simply a feeling. Through my studies of psychotherapy sciences, which I have also selected because I felt good about them, I was drawn increasingly towards psychoanalysis during the first semesters. I always thought that when I deal already with the psyche, than I should do it deeply. I want to get to the causes of a symptom and not only move the symptom. Understanding rather than explaining.


DWP: If you had the opportunity to talk with Sigmund Freud, what would be the topic?
Are there any specific questions?

Katrin Hofer: What would be the topic ... if I already knew that now, the approach to the conversation would have nothing analytical for me and so I would imagine the encounter with Sigmund Freud. Look what´s coming and what strikes me at the moment to ask him.


DWP: Fabric or leather couch?

Katrin Hofer: Fabric.


DWP: According to Bruno Bettelheim and the importance of fairy tales in childhood. Will you tell us your favorite fairy tale? And do you see parallels to your own adult life?

Katrin Hofer: When I think of a fairy tale the first I recall is Snow White. Parallels to the development of my life are perhaps given by the fact that she runs away from home and deep into the woods. The way of psychoanalysis comes to mind immediately, deep into the subconscious and see what´s coming ...


DWP: I dream,….

Katrin Hofer: a lot and vividly.


DWP: What do you find good or particularly good in psychoanalysis and is there anything you do not like about it?

Katrin Hofer: I love the intensity of feeling when dealing with psychoanalysis. The profound examination of one’s own history - and dreams is the way to get there. I think the disputed position of psychoanalysis in society is not very good. Psychoanalysis seems rigid, outdated and slow. But in these long-established viewpoints it is completely overlooked how lively psychoanalysis is today.


DWP: What challenges did you have to face during your analytic training?

Katrin Hofer: The question is probably where these challenges start and where they end, because to complete an analytical education means, to me, generally a great challenge. You have to deal extensively with your own live, your own feelings and at the beginning of the training you may question just a little bit too much, I myself have perceived this often as a hindrance but it is also a part of the process in which one goes if one goes through an analytical training which probably will never end..


DWP: Do you have a favorite Freud - quote?

Katrin Hofer: “Thus, by being born we have made the step from an absolutely self-sufficient narcissism to the perception of a changing external world and the beginnings of the discovery of objects. And with this is associated the fact that we cannot endure the new state of things for long, that we periodically revert from it, in our sleep, to our former condition of absence of stimulation and avoidance of objects.”

 
DWP:  Are there other psychoanalysts, in addition to Sigmund Freud, who you like to study?

Katrin Hofer: A lot .. I like to always read about new perspectives on psychoanalysis. Currently I occupy myself intensely with Donald W. Winnicott, Erik Erikson and those psychoanalysts who mainly deal with the subject of pregnancy and maternity, such as Marie Langer.


Thank you very much for this conversation, we are already looking forward to your leading article!



Contact information of the author:
Katrin Hofer