R. Horacio Etchegoyen, MD, 1999 (1919-2016)
Dr. Etchegoyen's influential contributions to psychoanalysis spanned clinical practice, theory, and supervision and training and were unified by a lifelong engagement with the theory of technique. Though deeply immersed in Kleinian thought, he brought an unusual capacity for appreciating other models — exploring ideas across different psychoanalytic traditions with both rigor and openness. This breadth found its fullest expression in his monumental treatise, The Fundamentals of Psychoanalytic Technique (1991), which Robert Wallerstein described as an impressively comprehensive effort to encompass the worldwide literature on technique, comparing and contrasting work across the four major psychoanalytic languages. The book examines how psychoanalytic technique is shaped by the wide variety of theoretical perspectives — from Klein to Lacan — weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each in light of clinical experience.
Etchegoyen's bridge-building extended to the Lacanian movement, engaging Jacques-Alain Miller in discussions in Buenos Aires in 1996 and inviting him to the 1997 IPA Congress in Barcelona — a gesture that reflected his commitment to dialogue across theoretical divides. Sigourney Award recipient Ricardo Bernardi cited Etchegoyen's "clarity and courage" as a direct influence on his own work.
A founding member of the Buenos Aires Psychoanalytic Association, Etchegoyen became the first Latin American elected president of the International Psychoanalytic Association. His career encompassed decades of clinical practice, extensive supervision, and a distinguished teaching record both within and beyond the psychoanalytic field.
Ver Entrevista al Dr. Horacio Etchegoyen [in Spanish]