Editing Melanie Klein (section)

=== Clinical significance ===
The concepts of "Envy and Gratitude" occupy a central place in Klein's clinical work. Klein specifically studied how the feeling of envy affects the therapeutic relationship in severe narcissistic and psychotic disorders.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hinshelwood |first=Robert D. |title=A dictionary of Kleinian thought |date=1996 |publisher=Free Association Books |isbn=978-0-946960-83-5 |edition=2nd, rev. and enlarged |location=London}}</ref>

According to Klein, excessive envy hinders treatment in two ways:

# By devaluing the therapist's help and interpretations
# By undermining the patient's capacity for insight and progress

Envy can jeopardize the therapeutic relationship and the healing process because the patient becomes unable to accept the analyst's help. In the therapeutic process, the analysis of envious feelings and the development of the capacity for gratitude are key to successful treatment.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Segal |first=Hanna |title=Psychoanalysis, literature, and war: papers, 1972-1995 |last2=Steiner |first2=John |date=1997 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-15329-4 |series=New library of psychoanalysis |location=London New York}}</ref> 

Klein's concepts still hold great importance in contemporary psychoanalytic practice, especially in the treatment of severe personality disorders and narcissistic structures. Clinicians use Klein's conceptual framework to understand and work with the patient's envious feelings.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Britton |first=Ronald |title=Sex, death, and the superego: experiences in psychoanalysis |date=2004 |publisher=Karnac |isbn=978-1-85575-948-0 |edition=Reprinted |location=London}}</ref>