ABSTRACT
(I) I am using the term ‘encounter’ here to designate what takes place between someone who is seeking analysis and the analyst he/she decides to consult, i.e., from the very first contact to the mutual agreement on beginning, or not beginning, an analysis. Thus defined, the encounter may consist in one or several interviews. I think it is interesting to try and identify how the question of the beginning, which comprises the ambiguities already mentioned, is posed.
