Icarus and the Existential Psychoanalyst: The peril and promise of change
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65828/3tajwd74Keywords:
Existential psychoanalysis, change, Laing, psychoses, psychophobia, transformationAbstract
A reimagining of Icarus serves as a lens to explore the complexities of psychosis and the therapeutic encounter. Moving beyond its traditional framing as a cautionary tale of hubris, the myth is recast as a rich allegory for transformation, risk, and the human experience. Within this framework, the therapist is neither a detached navigator nor a rescuer, but a companion who meets the individual in the aftermath, bearing witness, offering presence, and honouring the journey's peril and promise.
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