Beyond silence: Notes on self-disclosure and erotic transference in analysis

This article explores self-disclosure within erotic transference, viewing the analytic relationship as a living space, traversed by words, silences, and countertransference resonances that weave together into a subtle and ever-shifting tapestry. The reflection emerges from the intersection of theoretical thought and clinical listening, moving along that delicate threshold between immersion and abstention. It examines both the transformative potential of revelation and the risk that excessive subjective exposure may undermine the symbolic function of the analytic setting. The discussion unfolds along three main lines: erotic transference, explored not only in its instinctual dimension but also as an archetypal expression capable of activating deep transformative processes; self-disclosure, in its ambivalent nature, suspended between the risk of disrupting the analytic field and the potential to open pathways toward new psychic integrations; countertransference, considered both in its reactive movements and as a compass for navigating the deeper layers of the analytic relationship, through the modulation of language, the management of emotional intensity, and the maintenance of the analytic frame. Through clinical vignettes and dialogue with various theoretical perspectives, this paper offers a reflection on the art of balancing revelation and containment, questioning how Eros might find form and voice within the analytic field without losing its symbolic tension.

Keywords: ; self-disclosure; erotic transference; countertransference; analytic field; symbolic function; psychic transformation

Anna Maria Montesanto, Oltre il silenzio: note su self-disclosure e transfert erotico in analisi in "STUDI JUNGHIANI" 61/2025, pp 24-40, DOI: 10.3280/jun61-2025oa19306