Henry Markman

CLINICAL APPROACH

In his book Creative Engagement in Psychoanalytic Practice, Henry Markman presents his clinical approach. There he describes how the clinician works in a creative and improvisational way to meet the needs of someone in his or her care—highlighting the importance of the analyst’s unique voice, creativity, and embodied awareness in authentically being with and relating to patients. Henry Markman emphasizes the therapeutic importance of the analyst’s embodied presence and openness, improvisational accompaniment, and love within the analytic framework. As each patient-therapist match is unique so one method cannot be prescribed. Rather, it is in the emotional experience that a space is created for the person to develop and grow. Henry Markman focuses on the engaged embodied dialogue between therapist and patient, where emotional states are shared as the route to self-discovery and growth. The involvement of the therapist’s singular and spontaneous self is crucial.