Thinking the unthinkable: trauma, defence and early states of mind in the work of Alessandra Cavalli.

From my experience of working with her as the editor of many of her papers, this paper seeks to elucidate the late Alessandra Cavalli's clinical and theoretical approach to analytic work through a study of the editorial process her papers went through on their way to publication. This highlights a consistent theoretical synthesis integrating Klein, Fordham, Bion, Matte-Blanco and Ferrari in an archetypal structure that was firmly rooted in Jung. This synthesis, closely interwoven into Alessandra's clinical work but never fully articulated, was primarily concerned with the impact of trauma on the developing self and how this could be ameliorated through the analytic process, especially through the transformation of raw primitive affect into representational form via the containment provided by an emotionally attuned other.

Psychotherapy as a skilled practice.

While psychotherapy is related to both science and art, it is primarily a craft activity requiring the development of skilful practice, epitomized by the discipline of the analytic attitude. In terms of the forms of knowledge outlined by Aristotle, this places psychotherapy in the realm of 'technê' (arts and craft) rather than epistêmê (science). In particular, the technê of psychotherapy is concerned with the development of phronesis (practical wisdom) in both patient and analyst and its ultimate aim is concerned with the promotion of eudaimonia, a state of well-being considered by Aristotle to be definitive of 'the good life'.