Analysts Quote by Wilfred Bion
“Every session attended by the analyst must have no history and no future. What is 'known' about the patient is of no further consequence: it is either false or irrelevant. If it is 'known' by patient and analyst, it is obsolete…The only point of importance in any session is the unknown. Nothing must be allowed to distract from intuiting that. In any session, evolution takes place. Out of the darkness and formlessness something evolves.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Elements of Psycho-Analysis, Wilfred Bion, 1963
The therapeutic session should focus on the unknown, letting past and future knowledge recede, allowing unconscious material to emerge and evolve.
In simple terms: Focus on the unknown in therapy.
Key Takeaway
Embrace uncertainty to foster growth.
Themes
psychoanalysis
uncertainty
transformation
therapeutic process
psychology
Mood
reflective
introspective
analytical
Type
clinical
theoretical
instructional
When to use this quote
- initial assessment
- ongoing therapy
- crisis intervention
- psychotherapy sessions
Key Concepts
unconscious
analytic listening
evolution of insight
clinical practice
Questions to Reflect On
- How can a therapist balance safety with embracing the unknown?
- What methods help maintain focus on the unknown?
A Different Perspective
The unknown may be overwhelming; not all unknowns lead to insight.
![“There was an analyst who came out the other day who's had a long track record of projecting presidential campaigns based on the economy and other kind of factors. And he said if [Donald] Trump stays about where he is right now, he'll win at about 51 or 52 percent. If Trump actually gets his act…” quote by Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fdf/newt-gingrich-792_analysts_there-was-an-analyst-who-came-out-the-ot_106317.jpg)
