Ethical notes on disrupted frames and violated boundaries.

Abstract

Despite the fact that the analyst's work unfolds at the crossroad of a prevalent moral code, psychoanalysis has neglected to address ethical or philosophical arguments. Such arguments have significant technical implications for the discipline in regard to "dos" and "don'ts." Different approaches to moral dilemmas are considered in relation to pertinent aspects of the psychoanalytic frame and the psychoanalytic process.The term ethics derives from the ancient term ethos, which means character. Before the birth of philosophical thought and reflection, the sophists believed that character or ethos was an individual's fate. Considering ethical principles as manifestations of fate implies the presence of an underlying determinism that curtails freedom, that is to say, the freedom to make choices and behave according to certain moral or ethical standards.Psychoanalysis, as all theoretical systems do, rests on an implicit rather than explicit moral code. Moral codes are embedded in society and culture at a given historical juncture. The "state of morals" prescribes acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Accepting the premise that the work of the analyst unfolds at the crossroad of a prevalent moral code brings to the fore the often denied or split-off coexistence of the silent values of psychoanalytic treatment, namely, the values of Good and Evil.Freud's work seems to elude references to philosophical arguments on ethics. The philosopher and psychoanalyst Jonathan Lear (2000) finds it "striking that Freud turned to ancient Greece for its myths, but not for its ethics or philosophy" (p. 6). The reason for turning to philosophy stands on the recognition that "the space of the psychoanalytical cure revolves around an ethical problem" (Szpilka, 2002(Szpilka, , p. 1032).Socrates's critique of the sophists-those that held opinions (doxa) rather than knowledge (episteme)-questioned the assertion that virtues are the product of character. Instead of viewing ethical principles as something that some have and others do not, the philosopher embraced knowledge as the source of ethical life. In other terms, Socrates was convinced that the ropes of an ethical life might be taught, and thus, ethical or virtuous

A grounded theory study on the effect of the therapeutic setting on NHS psychodynamic psychotherapy from the perspective of the therapist

“…In terms of understanding the frame as part of the setting Tylim (2004) gives ethical consideration to the frame and to the disruption of boundaries. Hence a reliable and predictable setting or frame offers support to the analytic process.…”

Boundaries, multiple roles, and the professional relationship.

“…Whether clients resent and challenge professional boundaries or are boundary enthusiasts, they deserve to know your boundary-keeping practices and procedures. In an article entitled "Ethical Notes on Disrupted Frames and Violated Boundaries," Isaac Tylim (2004) wrote, "Psychoanalysts ought to keep in mind the late Donald Kaplan ' s advice to his supervisees, that prior to opening a practice they should place a sign at the entrance to the consulting room reading, 'This relationship has no future ' " (p. 612). Perhaps signage is not the best solution, but the informed consent process is a central and ongoing professional obligation that should include talking about boundaries.…”