CRITICA

This issue of the newsletter required an attempt to find a creative voice inside or born from overwhelm. In the beginning of 2020, we have decided to have this issue be focused on Trauma. When the Pandemic struck in March, we were all forced to transition to remote work and deal with the unprecedented (or perhaps lived before in times of collective turmoil) reality of being immersed in a similar traumatic experience as our patients. In this process, the editorial board encountered a community feeling out-of-words or lacking emotional bandwidth to engage with writing in the midst of uncertainty, collective grief, an ongoing emergence of clinical challenges and the intensity of anti-other sentiment. As we were still catching our breath from one crisis a new one would emerge, revealing the multi-faceted reality of trauma being deeply lived at the core of the moment. We are extremely grateful to the authors who took the invitation to reflect on their experience and, like in Winnicott’s squiggle game, offered us the first squiggle so we could engage and create new forms. As for the ones who had something to say, but not quite yet, we all know that in the apres-coup meanings can be formed, found or assembled. In the waiting, without giving up, we may trust that what is yet unknown will find its way in. It may take time, but the platform is open so those voices can be heard when the time comes. Isn’t that what working with trauma looks like?

Anyways, working in the trenches and finding ourselves in the eye of the storm, we have been attempting to learn as we go, and to co-create a new path for psychoanalytic knowledge. As we put together the papers we received, we decided to present them as a collage, a kaleidoscope of ideas that hopefully will lead to new and ever-changing forms as we encourage our community to reflect together about the inherent struggle of inviting the beast and keeping engaged. In this issue, we had authors reflecting on their emotional experience through literary pieces; others wonder about trauma and its manifestations and clinical implications, while some challenge psychoanalysis from within to consider whiteness, racism, oppression, and silence. I hope those voices will help us in gradually defining a new pathway for PINC, or at least allow for our hearts to connect with the heavy work of grief and hope that any crisis, if fully engaged, calls for.

I would like to thank our editorial team for all the effort that they put into this issue, navigating the uncertainty of these times together, and gradually finding a path to follow. Our meetings and conversations were quite meaningful and inspiring, leading to thoughtful insights. Luca Di Donna Ph.D., his inclusive and caring attitude allowed for many invaluable reflections on our struggles during the Pandemic Isolation; Rosalinda’s creative presence both in our discussions and in her beautiful paintings opened the way to touching and deep considerations; Jane’s sharp mind and editing abilities were vital in consolidating the many papers that were submitted and Laura Mayen, Ph.D. candidate, is a new member of the editorial team. Laura’s warm and clever contribution enriched our conversations while she helped in navigating technical issues and compiling papers for publication. Our editorial team worked very hard this Summer to present you with the beginning of a reflection on our current times. I feel grateful to have been able to work with such a wonderful and collaborative team. Without them, this issue would never have been born.