The trauma clinic in Ferenczi and Winnicott

Abstract

This paper's motion is to approach the clinic of trauma or of splitting in Ferenczi and Winnicott, pointing to their similarities and differences. In the first part we study the theory of pathogenic trauma in Ferenczi, his notion of narcissistic splitting as a defense in face of the traumatic, as well as his clinical propositions grounded on analytic elasticity and sincerity, on trust and regression to the infantile. In the second part we approach the trauma theory in Winnicott, his notion of unthinkable agonies, the pathological splitting between true and false self, and his clinical propositions grounded on analytic trustfulness and regression to dependence. Finally we outline a comparative study of both perspectives, pointing to their most meaninful convergences, though not skipping to indicate their divergences. Keywords: Ferenczi, Winnicott, Trauma, Regression, Trustfulness.