Embracing the Ambivalence: Otto Rank’s Complementary Approach and Its Relevance Today

The existential psychoanalyst Otto Rank’s approach has not only shaped contemporary experiential and relational psychotherapy, but it is also useful to the continued development of theory and practice, both within humanistic psychoanalysis and existential-humanistic psychology. Traditional, mainstream therapeutic psychology has yet to expand on many of Rank’s most important principles, where process and relation are fundamental. Current outcomes in psychotherapy research indicate support for Rank’s strong focus on the therapeutic relationship. However, the quest is ongoing in terms of the constituents of the therapeutic dyad. In this paper, I focus on the here-and-now dynamics and the co-creative nature of the therapeutic encounter, tied to Rank’s notion of relationality. I introduce his idea of complementarity to exemplify how duality, pain, and ambivalence, are not only inevitable aspects of life but also vital to creativity, personal development, and growth. Using Rank’s work as a guiding principle, I contend that the goal of constructive therapy is not to overcome these expressions and possible blockages to authentic living but to transform underlying negative expressions into creative manifestation. This is partly done by embracing the diversity of experience; by surrendering to a realm between potential and actuality, client and therapist; and attuning to the so-called therapeutic third .