Rom J Psychoanal 2019, 13(2):159-172
DOI: 10.2478/rjp-2020-0021
Abstract: Certain early experiences of a traumatic nature have not been subjected to the conventionally described processes of “après-coup” reorganization because of the defence mechanisms implemented against the traumatic threat they harbour. Using vignettes from different sessions, I study the process by which these early experiences merge with transference during treatment, thus offering the opportunity for a first form of après-coup and therefore becoming secondarily elaborable. This occurs provided that the analyst is sensitive to the non-verbal forms of returning archaic experiences. I will then describe the nonverbal forms of returning archaic experiences using various clinical examples.
