Playing and Vitality in Psychoanalysis

Playing and Vitality in Psychoanalysis was published in 2022 as part of the Routledge series on contemporary psychoanalytic thought. Giuseppe Civitarese, a prominent Italian psychoanalyst and training analyst, wrote this work to explore the intersection of clinical practice and the concept of play. It builds upon his ongoing scholarly contributions to Bionian theory and field theory, seeking to reframe the psychoanalytic session as a space where the analyst and patient co-create meaning through active engagement and spontaneous experience.

The book is designed for clinicians and advanced students interested in the evolving landscape of relational psychoanalysis. Civitarese draws heavily on the work of D.W. Winnicott, specifically the idea of play as an essential component of psychological health and development. Upon its release, the text was received by the psychoanalytic community as a significant attempt to move beyond classical models toward a more fluid, interactive approach to treatment that prioritizes the patient's capacity for symbolic expression.