Final Analysis: The Making and Unmaking of a Psychoanalyst

It might come as a shock to some readers to discover what goes on in the dark halls of psychoanalysis, but anyone with long experience in psychology will feel thoroughly vindicated after reading Final Analysis. Dr. Masson, a highly trained practitioner, is certainly not the first to point out that psychoanalysts (and psychiatrists) are a cult. The only reason we don't hear more from those members who have been "defrocked," as Peter Breggin puts it, is that, like a cult, its adherents still worship the "master" even after they've left the sphere of his control. The "master", of course, is Sigmund Freud, a man who referred to psychoanalysis as "die Sache" ("the cause"), and garnered unquestioning loyalty among his disciples. The profound secrecy which characterized the workings of the inner circle, a select group to whom Freud gave engraved rings in a rather Tolkeinesque gesture, is something that has been perpetuated to this day. The machinations, jealousies and utter irrationality (how ironic!) of this small coterie makes for some fascinating reading, as does the account of Dr. Masson's encounters with Freud's heir and devotee, his daughter Anna. I think that what impressed me most about this memoir was not Masson's meteoric fall from grace--somewhat like Icarus, he flew too near the sun--but his candid description of Anna Freud. This was a woman who was clearly obsessed with her father. Anna, a woman who "gave off an aura of physical coldness," never married or had children. When her father lay dying of cancer, she replaced her mother in Freud's sickroom, becoming, in effect, his surrogate wife. The fact that Freud psychoanalyzed Anna accentuates the strangness of their relationship. (Imagine spending an hour every day describing your sexual fantasies to your father, and having him analyze them. Perhaps there was a good reason for why the seventy-year-old Anna kept her bedroom filled with stuffed animals.) Unfortunately, the unnaturalness of Freud's family relations not only permeated Freud's life and writing, but infused itself into the entire belief system that is Freud's legacy. After reading Dr. Masson's account, I would like to believe that psychoanalysis is on its way out. After a century of causing untold harm to thousands of women (including Marilyn Monroe) it deserves to fade into obscurity--along with EST and Primal Scream and all the other psych fads. Given the broad array of mental health practitioners nowadays, there is certainly more of a choice as to what kind of therapy a person can seek. Unfortunately, the idea that it's "all in your head" is one that persists, and desperate, despairing people who seek help are still regularly mistreated, ignored and dismissed by those who should know better.

I thought this book the best of the several books I have read by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson. A very good read, this will help you realise what does go on with psychotherapy - largely for the psychotherapist's benefit. This author is worth reading and this is the book I think you are best off starting with.

Like many other people, and despite having serious doubts about psychotherapy myself, I was put off by the pamphleteering tone and over-comprehensiveness of "Against Therapy". In this book, Masson reveals the reasons behind "Against Therapy", which are very sound indeed. The ways in which absolute power can corrupt a therapist absolutely are made crystal clear, and are shown most convincingly by this highly intelligent and lucid first-person narrative. It is unsurprising that Masson should have been put off therapy completely by his experiences, and a pity, as his intelligence and dedication would have made him a great reformer.

Anyone even remotely associated with analysis, as either a patient, friend of a patient, or an analyst himself, should read this very informative and fascinating book. Clear and well-written, Masson does a wonderful job of exposing the clique of therapists who get rich by deceiving their patients, pretending to care and asserting knowledge they simply don't possess. A very engrossing book that explores a heretofore closed society.

Reading Masson's book, I was reminded time and again of the injustices and psychological abuse I experienced whilst undergoing Social Work training a number of years ago."Final Analysis", together with Masson's other treasures - "Against Therapy" and "Assault on Truth" provide, in my view, an accurate insight into the arrogance, self-righteousness and pretense to knowledge and care that often occurs both behind the scenes and quite openly in the world of Psychotherapy.One of the better books I have read.