Analytic Sadism and Analytic Restraint.

Csillag challenges us to consider the presence and impact of the analyst’s sadism in the clinical encounter. Her theme usefully adds to the literature on the analyst’s countertransference and pushes us to look harder at ourselves. I distinguish between sadistic intent andexperiencedsadistic impact and suggest that Csillag is mostly speaking about the latter. Additionally, I address the absence of analytic restraint as a professional ideal that might moderate our slide to sadism in the countertransference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]