Introduction: The relationship between analyst and patient in the therapeutic setting is of great importance in therapy, but what is the importance of this relationship outside the therapeutic setting?
Question: The purpose of this study is to examine psychoanalysts’ experiences of the patient’s presence in their inner world, outside the therapeutic setting, how the analyst, the therapeutic collaboration and the therapeutic process are affected by this.
Method: Five analysts were interviewed using semistructured qualitative interview. The interviews were analyzed using IPA.
Results: The analysts described experiences of a calm, creative, fluid, dreamlike presence of the patient, of a burdening presence characterized by concern, of a presence characterized by feelings of both affection and concern, of a transference and counter transference characterized by aggression, where the analyst feels occupied by the patient, and of the patient’s presence linked to frame break.
Discussion: All analysts stated that the patients had become internal objects, and a permanent part of their inner world. This could be experienced as both enriching, with feelings of joy, satisfaction and creativity, and demanding, with feelings of concern, frustration and anger. In both cases this presence was, however, experienced as an asset and a tool in the therapeutic process.