Giving Birth to Death

Informed by the death of his infant son, the author explores the paradox that traumatic loss holds when experiences of death, separation, and disintegration give birth to intimacy, vitality and cohesion. Might being fully alive require embracing the dialectical counterpart, death? The author uses re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of psychology and christianity
Main Author: Kuehlthau, Ryan D. (Author)
Format: Print Article
Language:English
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Published: [2017]
In: Journal of psychology and christianity
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Psychotherapy / Grief / Patient / Psychotherapist / Relationship
IxTheo Classification:ZD Psychology
Further subjects:B Grief
B Psychoanalysis
B Social Cohesion
B Infants Death
B SEPARATION (Psychology)
Description
Summary:Informed by the death of his infant son, the author explores the paradox that traumatic loss holds when experiences of death, separation, and disintegration give birth to intimacy, vitality and cohesion. Might being fully alive require embracing the dialectical counterpart, death? The author uses relational psychoanalytic clinical and theoretical concepts and language to explore and discuss treatment with a patient, Timothy, during a time when the author was acutely grieving. Experiencing and processing trauma provide integrative possibilities for both patient and therapist. By witnessing to that which is disavowed (e.g. horror, agony, abandonment, rage), both therapist and patient discover meaning in their individual and shared losses. As encounters with birth and death are processed, integrated, and adapted to, these life realities emerge not as bookends to live between and move against, but as energy sources to move toward and lean into. Parallels to the passion story of Christ are explored.
ISSN:0733-4273
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of psychology and christianity