Tenderness in Our Work. Orpha and the Orphic Psychoanalyst.

Area of Science:

• Psychoanalysis
• Psychology
• Trauma Studies

Background:

• Sándor Ferenczi's late-life concept of Orpha.
• Orpha as a protective psychic fragment in massively traumatized patients.
• Limited exploration of tenderness in psychoanalytic discourse.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore Ferenczi's concept of Orpha.
• To examine the psychoanalyst's orphic function within the transference.
• To investigate the role of tenderness in the analyst-patient relationship.

Main Methods:

• Clinical exploration of Orpha.
• Analysis of the psychoanalyst's orphic function.
• Examination of tenderness as a therapeutic tool.

Main Results:

• Orpha represents a psychic defense mechanism in trauma survivors.
• The analyst's orphic function facilitates engagement with Orpha.
• Tenderness emerges as a crucial element in the analytic relationship.

Conclusions:

• Ferenczi's Orpha concept offers insight into trauma.
• The analyst's orphic role is vital for processing trauma.
• Tenderness is an underutilized but effective therapeutic modality.