Tango and microprocesses in the psychoanalytic situation

The content-related discussion on the bodily dimension in psychoanalytic work, which includes the asymmetrical but nevertheless reciprocal influence between patients and psychoanalysts, represents an important development in understanding transforming processes in psychoanalytic treatment; however, the attention still predominantly focuses more on the resonant reactions of the analyst to the patient than on the influence of the bodily presence, bodily sensations, fantasies and the willingness of the analyst to become open for subtle physical and atmospheric signals. Based on the same roots, parallels can be drawn from dancing, especially the Argentine tango as an improvised couple dance, to the microprocesses in the psychoanalytic situation as unique forms of creating a specific being together. This includes the reciprocal bodily experiences of being together with another in the world and consequently on early relationship experiences. By reactivating the old patterns and also undergoing a change within a new human encounter, transforming processes can be initiated by experiencing a creative dialogue.