Abstract
This qualitative study explores the subjectivity of UK-based psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapists regarding money matters and their impact on the analytic process. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse data from interviews of 19 psychotherapists, generating three overarching themes; the first, ‘the concrete-symbolic continuum’ includes themes titled ‘money-matters located in the external-setting’ and ‘money-matters located in the external and internal settings’. The second, ‘feelings associated with money’ includes themes titled ‘shame’, ‘greed’, ‘envy’ and ‘guilt’. The third, ‘cultural differences and money’ includes themes titled ‘culture, monetary needs and desires’ and ‘culture and money discussions’. Applying the theory of mentalisation to discuss the findings, it is suggested that money matters are often experienced in the ‘psychic-equivalence’ mode, whereby internal states are perceived as concrete reality. Rather than flexibly oscillating between the concrete and the symbolic, money matters become fixed at the concrete end of the continuum. Consequently, difficult feelings about money matters cannot be reflected upon, leading to defensive monetary arrangements that do not serve the analytic process. The study concludes that money remains a taboo subject in the British psychoanalytic community, hindering the analytic process. The study suggests reflective spaces on money matters are incorporated into psychoanalytic trainings and institutions.