FREE ASSOCIATION LISBON

In contemporary psychoanalysis, Freud’s concept of construction in analysis is crucial for grasping the psychic reality in non-neurotic modes of functioning. Unlike direct recollection, which may be inaccessible when the capacity for representation is weak or absent, construction involves the analyst piecing together latent meanings, early experiences, and unconscious conflicts from the patient’s unconscious communication. This process is not merely about retrieving forgotten memories but creating a coherent narrative that allows the patient to integrate past traumas into their conscious understanding. We must, however, ask ourselves where constructions end, and suggestion begins.

 

We have invited Howard to share his insights on this topic. In two seminars, we will explore how he incorporates Freud's ideas into his own metapsychology and clinical practice. Before the seminars, we will review a selection of papers he suggested to better understand his approach to constructions in analysis.