When the internal setting becomes more important than the therapist/analyst's interpretative capacity: extending the infant observation method to the prenatal and perinatal period

Abstract

The authors continuing work over several years with Esther Bick's method of infant observation has created a strong sense of its usefulness as a tool for developing the capacity to ‘listen’ with increasing refinement to primitive psychic phenomena – as well as developing the receptive and containing capacity of professionals trained in observation. These capacities are essential for dealing with primitive transference/countertransference phenomena where the analyst's internal setting, her consistency, reliability, constancy and preoccupation is more important than her ability to interpret or her theoretical knowledge. The authors have begun to apply the method in longitudinal observational studies of obstetric ultrasound examinations, from the 12th week of gestation, up to delivery. The paper includes a brief case illustration of how the trained professional's internal setting, enriched by the original infant observation experience, may facilitate developmental processes, especially integration, during the delicate period of gestation, further helping parents to prepare for delivery with all its inherent anxieties.