The new volume by David and Jill Scharff represents further development and an integration of their earlier contributions to psychoanalytic object relations theory, and the integration of psychoanalytic theory with new developments in adjacent scientific fields. Here, they present a broad panorama of the relationship of object relations theory, link theory and field theory, chaos theory, and up to date relevant findings in neurobiological and attachment research. They apply this complex original framework to contemporary clinical psychoanalytic approaches to individual treatment, couples therapy, and family therapy in a rich, clearly formulated illustration of the clinical relevance of this theoretical approach. It is an exciting exploration of the present expansion and challenges of theoretical and clinical psychoanalysis; thought provoking and practical at the same time., From a European perspective, this wonderful book creates a bridge between subject and object, between internal and external reality, and between North American and European psychoanalysis. Through the authors’ deep, experiential knowledge of the international psychoanalytic field, it shows how contemporary psychoanalysts can harmoniously integrate different theories and techniques., The great strength of the book is the coherence of the unfolding narrative of ideas that provide a framework for working with couples and families. The Scharffs, as they are often collectively referred to, have stayed true to their object relations foundations and maintain these as they explore influences from other disciplines and different parts of the world. They offer us a window into the journey they have made, and continue to make, as thinking clinicians, and by doing so, invite and sometimes challenge us to reflect on our own assumptions and methods.
