Bhaskar Sripada

In his memoir, Bhaskar Sripada, M.D., a psychoanalyst, describes his experience treating a patient with depression using Essential Psychoanalysis. Emotions, thoughts, and memories evoked in him by the patient, more than by abstract theories, guide his actions. Despite the uncertainty created by their active observations and interactions, the patient and analyst maintain different perspectives. Although theyshare a common understanding concerning many aspects of their interactions, they often...See more

In his memoir, Bhaskar Sripada, M.D., a psychoanalyst, describes his experience treating a patient with depression using Essential Psychoanalysis. Emotions, thoughts, and memories evoked in him by the patient, more than by abstract theories, guide his actions. Despite the uncertainty created by their active observations and interactions, the patient and analyst maintain different perspectives. Although theyshare a common understanding concerning many aspects of their interactions, they often attribute different meanings to their communications. They may sometimes disagree even about what is happening in the analytic sessions. With the help of the analyst, the patient reevaluates his interests, frustrations, conflicts, novelties, and errors, redefines what is desirable, ideal, and good enough, and reshapes his Self. As in the case he presents, where a patient steps away from the brink of suicide, understanding the unconscious and conscious roots of a patient's suffering leads to insight, change, and healing. Dr. Sripada has been practicing psychoanalysis since 1980 and has taught at the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis since 1995. He currently resides and practices in Chicago. See less