Life line: application in couple and family psychoanalytic clinic

Abstract

This article examines the use of the “Life Line” as an artistic-expressive tool during initial interviews in couples and families psychoanalytic clinic, focusing on exploring the complexities of relationships and the unconscious content that emerges in this first stage of treatment. Initial interviews, structured to capture family dynamics and individual and collective demands, aim to build a preliminary understanding of relationships and establish the conditions for an effective therapeutic process. In this regard, the present work, grounded in the practical experience of a university extension project, presents a clinical vignette demonstrating how the Life Line allows for the representation of significant events in each family member’s trajectory, highlighting distinct perceptions of common experiences and bringing family conflicts and alliances to light. This technique proves effective in encouraging the expression of emotions and memories, enabling the therapist to observe group psychic functioning in greater depth. The Life Line, therefore, facilitates the construction of shared narratives, creating space for free associations that reveal nuances in family relationships. Thus, it is concluded that the use of the Life Line can enrich psychoanalytic work, expanding the understanding of relationships and promoting an environment conducive to the construction of collective meanings and the deepening of technique in couple and family therapy.