ABSTRACT
This book is the outcome of the collective reflection that has been carried out since 2013 within the working party on psychosomatics of the European Psychoanalytical Federation. The initiative came from three Swiss members of our group. As contacts were made, a group made up of nine analysts from six different societies and countries came to be: a group that seemed very heterogeneous at first. While Fotis Bobos, Jörg Frommer, Marina Perris-Myttas, Luigi Solano, and I, pursued a path largely centred on psychosomatics and the treatment of somatising patients, Eva Schmid-Gloor, Bérengère de Senarclens, Christian Seulin and Nick Temple were primarily interested in borderline states and had found themselves faced with the presence or emergence of somatic illnesses in the context of their practice. However, such heterogeneity actually contributed to the wealth and openness of our exchanges. It brought us together on the basis of a common belief that it was time to tackle the various theoretical approaches in the area of psychosomatics. We were intent from the start on rooting our reflections in clinical work. This is what we undertook from our first meetings onwards, via mutual presentations of clinical situations. Exposing ourselves through our daily clinical practice not only contributed to creating friendly ties in the group and fostering dynamics of exchange and interaction that were respectful of our differences, it also contributed to the formation of a group identity. Such a foundation somehow made up the living fabric that enabled us to make progress. We each had to confront unfamiliar ways of thinking and tolerate differences between us. But we also had to confront and make explicit what was often implicit in our own way of thinking and thereby become more aware of it. Moreover, we quickly realised that while we encountered differences and divergences in our understanding of the material and styles of intervention, we were nonetheless able to meet in a common ground for discussion. The divergences proved more deep-rooted when tackling the underlying theories that supported our different approaches.
