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FrancoAngeli Journals

Articoli

No. 58 (2023)

The use of face masks in analysis: Therapeutic relationship and online therapy in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3280/jun58-2023oa17156
Submitted
gennaio 19, 2024
Published
2024-01-31

Abstract

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic in many countries, face masks have been made mandatory in the home to prevent infection and have been adopted by many analysts to continue therapeutic work “in presence”. This article analyses the effects of their use in analytically oriented psychotherapy. After interviewing 305 people (163 analysts and 142 patients) engaged in psychotherapeutic treatment vis à vis, it emerged that the use of masks in analysis is certainly a significant but less impactful event than previously thought. Analytic therapies, in the experience of both patients and analysts, have demonstrated ability to withstand such a sudden and disruptive change of setting due to such peculiar factors as investment in the therapeutic relationship, attention to unconscious communication, and consideration in the therapeutic exchange of the symbolic dimension. The relational approach in analysis is confirmed to be of great clinical utility and the therapeutic relationship a protective and healing element. Moreover, online therapy is defined in this study as a second-tier therapy compared to in-presence therapy, even when the analytic couple is forced to remain in the analysis room with their faces partially covered by face masks.

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