Although the concepts of containment and the holding environment share similarities, there are some differences between the two concepts.
Containment, as developed by Bion, refers to the therapist's ability to hold and process the client's emotional experiences within the therapeutic relationship. It involves the therapist providing a safe and containing space for the client to explore their unconscious thoughts and emotions, and gradually make sense of them. The concept of the container-contained also emphasizes the mutual influence between the therapist and the client, with the therapist being both a container for the client's experiences and being contained by the client's experiences within the therapeutic relationship.
In contrast, the holding environment, as developed by Winnicott, refers to the caregiver's role in providing a safe and supportive space for an infant's emotional and psychological development. The holding environment involves the caregiver's ability to provide physical and emotional support, create a sense of safety and security, and allow for the infant's exploration and play.
Although the concepts of containment and the holding environment share some similarities, there are some key differences between the two. Containment is focused more specifically on the therapist's role in holding and processing the client's emotional experiences, while the holding environment is a broader concept that encompasses the caregiver's role in providing a safe and supportive space for a child's emotional and psychological development.
Both concepts, however, are central to understanding the importance of the interpersonal context in shaping individual experience and behavior, and emphasize the mutual influence and co-creation of experience within the interpersonal space between individuals.
