Michael Blumenfield, M.D.

I think it is interesting that most of us experienced our own  classical analysis and may have performed to varying degrees classical analysis where the patient lies on the couch and there is no eye contact with the therapist ! For many this was or may still be the gold standard.

Even when there is face to face therapy,  to many the proper approach is for the therapist not to reveal emotions through facial expression. To do so  could facilitate the development of a false transference etc etc. So now when we are forced to do remote therapy, I very much doubt that most therapists set up their screens so they are at least six feet away from their screen ( to reproduce the usual therapy setting ) or perhaps shut off their camera to do analysis in classical manner without patient seeing your face during the session. I believe that our profession has learned that we can come to understand transference in most settings, take into account and explore where our facial expression, objects in our office and information that the patient has obtained from the Internet will influence initial transference and use our techniques to interpret the patient perceptions and use analytic techniques to facilitate the therapy and help the patient.

 One more thought – for those of you who think that flat computer screen in just not realistic enough, please be aware that 3d realistic  Holograms are now available.See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuNj_rqx04o

Michael Blumenfield, M.D.