The Relational Turn in Italy – Introductory Notes

In 2011, a book was released in Italy which was addressed to the many Italian colleagues who feel they are an expression of relational psychoanalysis, are close to it, or are simply curious to learn more about it. The book is entitled “La svolta relazionale. Itinerari Italiani” (The Relational Turn. Italian Journeys, Lingiardi, Amedei, Caviglia, De Bei, 2011) and it focuses on the impact that relational scholars and ideas have had on the Italian psychotherapeutic and psychoanalytic scene. In particular, the editors wanted to explore the most influential theoretical traditions affecting the contemporary Italian psychoanalytic debate, trace the history of relational psychoanalysis in Italy, describe how Italian clinicians and researchers from different theoretical backgrounds have accepted or refused the relational model or have integrated it into their theories and practices, present a tentative list of books they consider as the most influential - from a relational/interpersonal/intersubjective perspective - for the youngest generations of Italian practitioners, and describe the dialogue and interaction between Italian relational psychoanalysts and psychotherapists and the domains of attachment theory, psychotherapy research, clinical cognitivism. The book soon became a point of reference as an introductory text to Italian relational psychoanalysis. The featuring in Psychoanalytic Dialogues of some articles synthetically derived from the far more extensive chapters that make up this volume has a special meaning for us today because it carries forward authoritatively that project which was also intended as a ground for dialogue between the Italian psychoanalytic community and the broader international community.