The Unconscious and the Family

The Unconscious and the Family is an exploration of the complex unconscious dynamics that shape family and couple links. Drawing on extensive clinical experience, Anna Maria Nicolò offers profound insights into the psychopathology present in these contexts, illustrating the theoretical framework with compelling case studies of couple conflicts, trauma, and psychotic disorders. Nicolò presents an innovative reinterpretation of psychoanalytic concepts as they apply to family and couple therapy, establishing a theoretical foundation in the first part of the book and detailing practical interventions in the second. The hypothesis of the existence of transpersonal disorders is gaining ground, particularly among couples dealing with violence and psychotic disorders. Special attention is given to diagnostic approaches, interpretation methods, transference dynamics, and the therapeutic use of the metaphor. Essential reading for psychoanalysts, psychotherapists, and mental health professionals working with families and couples, this volume fills a significant gap in the English-language literature on psychoanalytic approaches to family and couple therapy.