Clara M. Thompson's Early Years and Professional Awakening: An American Psychoanalyst (1893-1933) - Paperback

by Ann D'Ercole (Author)

Ann D'Ercole tells the story of Clara M. Thompson, drawing extensively on unpublished archival interviews and correspondence, to provide a full and complex picture of an early American pioneer of psychoanalysis.

The book begins by exploring Thompson's youth, which was steeped in evangelical Christianity, and conveys the difficulty that Thompson experienced as she resisted the restrictive conventions of femininity prevalent at the time. Despite this, Thompson's talent as a student continually shines through, as D'Ercole gives readers an account of Thompson's life at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where she would work alongside the innovative psychiatrist, Adolf Meyer. Thompson's ground-breaking theoretical and clinical achievements continue to be celebrated, as D'Ercole explores Thompson's life-changing experiences whilst in psychoanalytic treatment with Sándor Ferenczi.

By allowing her voice to prevail, this book recognizes Thompson's vital work in the formulation of interpersonal psychoanalysis, rendering it invaluable for interpersonal psychoanalysts wishing to understand Thompson's role in the development of the school.

Author Biography

Ann D'Ercole is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology at the New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, where she is both teaching faculty and supervisor. She is also a distinguished visiting faculty at the William Alanson White Institute and recipient of the APA, Division 39, Sexualities and Gender Identities Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Advancement of Sexualities and Gender Identities in Psychoanalysis. Dr. D'Ercole is in private practice in New York City.