Psychic Retreats: Pathological Organizations in Psychotic, Neurotic and Borderline Patients (The New Library of Psychoanalysis, Vol. 19)

John Steiner is a clear writer and provides helpful clinical application for working with individuals that have succumb to pathological personality organization.It certainly helped me have a greater view of my patients struggles as well as my own in the face of the traumas of childhood and relationships.

As a practising therapist studying Kleineian analysis I found this book instructive and accessible. It explained some of the reactions I see with my clients in practice.

Very clear and useful book.

This work by Steiner has much in common with the theories outlined in Rosenfield's work in 'Impasse and Interpretation'. Both deal with apparently 'stuck' patients in psychotherapeutic treatment and both explore the aspects of the mental structures leading to this 'stuckness'. I have found this book invaluable in work with personality disordered (especially narcissistic) individuals, as well as in a broad range of other disorders.

This book has been bought for study purposes, has not been read yet, but is recommended and I'm sure it fulfil the purpose intended.

Excellent Book and has really helped my own practice. Highly recommended!