Thompson and Severn had a number of disagreements about psychoanalytic theory and practice, particularly with regard to the role of the analyst's emotional involvement in the therapeutic relationship. Severn was known for her intense emotional involvement with her patients, and she believed that this was essential to the therapeutic process. Thompson, on the other hand, was more cautious about the role of emotional involvement in analysis, and she was critical of what she saw as the potential for boundary violations and other ethical concerns.
In addition to these theoretical differences, Thompson and Severn also had personal conflicts that may have contributed to their strained relationship. For example, Thompson was critical of Severn's unorthodox methods of psychoanalysis, which included the use of physical touch and other unconventional techniques.
Given these complex factors, it's difficult to say with certainty whether Thompson's reservations about Severn were specifically related to the concept of mutuality in psychoanalysis. However, it is worth noting that Thompson's work on object relations and relational psychoanalysis emphasized the importance of understanding the individual within the context of their relationships and social environment. This focus on the importance of the therapeutic relationship and the interdependence of the analyst and patient is consistent with some of the ideas about mutuality that were promoted by Ferenczi and his collaborators, including Severn.
