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 ability to also read the leading article from a different point of view.

This week we are very glad to welcome Fakhrun Siraj from Indonesia:

Born and raised in Indonesia. He works as a clinical psychoanalyst and is co-founder of the Association of Psychoanalysis Indonesia, where he also works as a Supervisor for young psychoanalysts in training.
He has published various works, among others "Trance Phenomena: uncover phenomena, dynamics, and the pattern of trance in the formation of personality".



DWP: What brought you to psychoanalysis?

Fakhrun Siraj: I have grown up in Sufism. As such I used it from childhood on to observe myself (sounds like a self-analysis of psychoanalysis does it not?). As a 8 year old I started studying philosophy, especially the philosophy of semiotic. Jacques Lacan is an awesome figure of psychoanalysis. I got to know psychoanalysis from Lacan. It was not until 12 years ago that I started studying psychology, especially psychoanalysis, in depth.


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

Fakhrun Siraj: Oh, that is one of my dreams. I would like to speak with him about the unconscious. For me the topic of the unconscious is very interesting and there will be no end to the discussion.
 

DWP: Fabric or leather couch?

Fakhrun Siraj: 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?

Fakhrun Siraj: In my childhood, my parents often told me the story of a hare, who is very clever. It can even beat the tigers and crocodiles. I think this is a childhood fairy tale that still affects my life now. My colleagues have often said that I am a person who has a lot of finesse and I seem to never be at my wits end.


DWP: I dream,….

Fakhrun Siraj: that psychoanalysis becomes a major psychiatric therapy in my country, Indonesia. And the Association of Psychoanalysis Indonesia accepted into psychoanalysis association of independent and trustworthy psychoanalysts.

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

Fakhun Siraj: I think everything in psychoanalysis is a good thing and interesting to learn. In particular the unconscious.


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

Fakhrun Siraj: During my psychoanalytic training I experienced a pure fascination with its approach. Challenges arose precisely when I started to listen to the criticism that psychoanalysis is not scientific.


DWP: Do you have a favorite Freud - quote?

Fakhrun Siraj: Of course I have it. I love the quote Freud, "love and work, work and love, that´s all there is."

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

Fakhun Siraj: Yes, I like to study Jacques Lacan.


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



Contact information of the author:
Fakhrun Siraj