Emergence of severe traumatic experiences: An assimilation analysis of psychoanalytic therapy with a political refugee

Warded off traumatic experiences can have pathological effects by impinging on consciousness (e.g., recurrent nightmares), on behavior (e.g., avoidanc e of intimacy), or on the body (e.g., pains). Assimilation or integration o f these problematic experiences is a common goal for different psychotherap ies. In this article, we describe the psychoanalytic therapy of a political refugee who had suffered traumatic losses. Using assimilation analysis, we tracked the emergence of her warded off memories of loss. The interaction and alliance with the therapist seemed to promote a long and complicated pr ocess of mourning, in which she explored and assimilated (integrated) the l oss. The analysis focuses on the early stages of assimilation, from warded off to problem formulation, stressing the complexity and pain of this proce ss. It also illustrates a progression from somatic (symptomatic) expression to verbal symbolic expression of the problematic experience.