Psychoanalytic work in mental health institutions

Professionals’ collective imagination

Abstract

This article investigated the professional who uses the psychoanalytic approach in mental health services and their imagination about their own performance, focusing on the visibility of the use of psychoanalysis in institutions. This is a qualitative-exploratory research using an open questionnaire for seven psychologists who work with psychoanalytic practice in mental health services in two cities in São Paulo. For data analysis, the thematic content analysis technique was used. In the reports, the most notable challenge was the interposition of the analyst's professional stance in his practice with the evaluation of his work, considering how he identifies with psychoanalysis, how he bases and evaluates his performance and how he presents himself to the subjects and the institution, in other words, how the professional relates to the unconscious. As results, it was possible to obtain four thematic units, namely: 1) “Identification through psychoanalysis: the place that psychoanalysis occupies in the professional’s life”; 2) “Theory together with practice: what psychoanalysis is this?”; 3) “The professional for the professional: building your own image” and 4) “Challenges of institutional practice: the different nuances”. Thus, psychoanalytic practice in institutions is an expanding area that deserves more research. The practice also showed acceptance among the professionals involved, highlighting that the professional's own collective imagination about their performance can influence their psychoanalytic stance in the institution.